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Garretson -- O. L. Garretson, 89, passed away on March 6, 2001 in Farmington, NM. He was born on February 24, 1912 on the family farm near Salem, Iowa. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Erma; a son, John and daughter, Susan Gattis both of Mission Viejo, CA and a son, Don of Mission, KS; a brother, Keith; and a sister, Doris Garretson both of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; eight grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sumner and Florence White Garretson of Salem and Mt. Pleasant Iowa, brothers, Wayne and Wendell, sister, Wilma, son, Leon, grandson, Cory and two great-grandsons, Michel and Zackery. Mr. Garretson graduated from high school in Salem, Iowa in 1930 and attended Iowa Wesleyan College. He later received his Mechanical Engineering Degree from Iowa State University in 1937. Soon after graduating from college, he went to work for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, OK and held many important managerial positions, one being the manager of the Special Products Division when he left the company in 1947. He moved to Roswell in 1947 and was the VP and Director of Sacra Brothers Butane and Propane, President of General Tank and Steel and served as Exec. Vice President and Director of Arrow Gas. He also held positions of President of United Farm Chemicals and President and Director of Garretson Carburation of Texas before moving to Farmington in 1960 to cofound and serve as Chairman and CEO of Plateau Refinery in Bloomfield. When Plateau was acquired by Saburban Propane, he become a Director of the National Corporation. He was also one of the founding partners and the major shareholder of the Farmington Holiday Inn and had served as Chairman and Director of the parent Corporation. Mr. Garretson belonged to a large number of professional and civic organization and had received numerous awards for his contributions to his professional field. His memberships included the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the National Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Petroleum Institute and he was President and Director of the National Petroleum Refiners Association. He also was a member of the Independent Refiners Association of America, the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, the American Society of Automotive Engineers and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Mr. Garretson was the President and Secretary of the Ancient Gassers and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Social Fraternity, the Tau Beta Pi Scholastic Honor Society and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He was an organizing director of the Farmington National Mason he was an organizing director of the Farmington National Bank, a member and past president of the Farmington Industrial Development Commission and had been the Chairman of the New Mexico Liquid Petroleum Gas Commission for 21 years. He was a registered professional engineer in New Mexico, Iowa, Oklahoma and Missouri and was a member of the Iowa Governors Trade Commission to Europe for two years. Mr. Garretson received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, the Merit Award from Iowa Wesleyan College Alumni Association and he also received the prestigious Professional Achievement in Engineering Award from Iowa State University. He was a long standing member of the New Mexico Amigos and had taken many trips with the Governor and business leaders from throughout the state to promote commerce for New Mexico. He had been a New Mexico resident for 57 years. Thoughout Mr. Garretson's career in the petroleum industry, he had been granted 45 patents fro projects that have enhanced operation, safety and storage related to petroleum product activities. These included a carburetor system for internal combustion engines and agriculture systems for crop fertilization and weed control. During World War II, Mr. Garretson worked on developing an aircraft engine factory test and break-in procedure, utilizing aircraft engine liquefied petroleum gas. This led to the invention of a system that allowed pilots to selectively increase the horse power of their engines during combat. Visitation will be Thursday 3:00 p.m. til 7:00 p.m. at the La Quey Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2001 at the First Presbyterian Church in Farmington with Co-Pastors, Dr. Frank and Tura Hayes officiating. Mr. Garretson will be taken to the Beatty Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant Iowa for Services Tuesday, March 13, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. with burial to follow at the Salem Iowa Cemetery. The family has requested contributions be made to San Juan College Rotary Scholarship Fund, 4601 College Blvd., Farmington, NM 87401 or to a charity of your choice. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of La Quey Funeral Home. 325-9611.
        Published on: Fri March 09, 2001