The city of Fargo is grieving hard right now. On May 20, 2026, Garrett Raedel — a familiar, warm face at the local Red Lobster and a guy who somehow managed to make everybody around him feel like they truly mattered — passed away, leaving behind a community that is still trying to wrap its head around the fact that he’s really gone.
It didn’t take long for the tributes to start flooding in. Social media lit up almost immediately with posts from friends, coworkers, and customers who all seemed to have one thing in common: Garrett had touched their lives in a way they weren’t expecting. People from Fargo, West Fargo, and all across Cass County came together online to share memories, post photos, and just let the world know that this man was somebody special.
A lot of folks knew Garrett through his work at Red Lobster, where he had earned himself the kind of nickname that tells you everything you need to know about a person. His friends called him the “Cheddar Bay Biscuits server” — not because of the food itself, but because of the energy and warmth he carried every single time he showed up to work. Customers remembered him. Coworkers loved him. And apparently, nobody ever left a shift or a table without feeling a little lighter after spending time around him.
Those who were closest to him didn’t hold back when describing what kind of man he was. “He always knew how to make people laugh,” one friend wrote online. “Garrett had a kind heart and made people feel seen.” That one hit different. Because in a world where a lot of people are just going through the motions, Garrett was the type of guy who actually stopped and paid attention to the people in front of him. That’s rare. And people noticed.
Family members and friends have been posting tributes nonstop since news of his passing broke. “Our hearts are shattered,” one heartfelt post read. “Garrett was loved beyond words and will be missed every single day.” Others talked about his generosity, his quiet strength, and the kind of loyalty that made you feel lucky just to know him. Coworkers said he treated everyone — customers and colleagues alike — with the same genuine respect and kindness every single day without fail.
What makes this loss hit even harder is the conversation it has sparked. Friends and community members have begun speaking openly about mental health awareness, about the importance of checking in on people who might be struggling on the inside even when everything looks fine on the outside. A lot of people are sitting with that right now — wondering if there was more they could have done or said. Those who knew Garrett are holding onto the hope that his memory will keep pushing people to show up for each other the way he always did.
As of now, official details about his memorial arrangements and the circumstances surrounding his death have not been publicly released. His family is expected to share funeral and remembrance information in the coming days. Until then, Fargo continues to hold its breath, hold each other close, and hold onto every single memory of a man who gave so much of himself to the people around him. Garrett Raedel may be gone, but from everything his community is saying, the mark he left on this city is going to stick around for a very long time.
