DUE TO THE SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH MONDAY THE FUNERAL SERVICE HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY AT 11:00 AM.
Arnold Louis Anderson, 86, of Opheim, Montana, passed away at the Billings Clinic after a short illness and surgery on February 28, 2018. Arnold was born June 28, 1931 on the family homestead in Valley County, south of Opheim. He was the youngest of four children born to Daniel G. and Anna Anderson. Arnold’s father passed away when he was 9 years old, and he and his siblings helped their mother keep the farm solvent through difficult years. He graduated from Opheim High School in 1949.
In 1952, his family was informed by the U.S. Government that either he or his brother, Dan, were required to be drafted into the Armed Services. Arnold, being the younger of the two, volunteered to join. On his way to sign up for the draft, Arnold ran into a friend and both decided to enlist into the U.S. Navy rather than be drafted into the Army. He served his basic training in San Diego and served on the USS Polaris. On a weekend leave from a Naval Station in Japan, he and a friend were taking pictures and had just taken a picture of a woman working in her garden. As they were walking away, a young Japanese woman asked if they would come and have tea with her grandmother (the woman in the garden) because it was an honor to have your picture taken at that time. When they joined the woman for tea in her home, they soon discovered that she was the widow of Commander Yamamoto, the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during WWII and the mastermind of the Pearl Harbor attack. He and his friend were able to visit extensively with her through her granddaughter who spoke fluent English. During his service in the Navy, Arnold was on all continents, except Australia and Antarctica.
Arnold was honorably discharged from the Navy as a second petty officer in 1955. He returned back to the family farm. On February 10, 1957 he married Mary Lou Gardner in Cut Bank, Montana. They had two children and were married for 41 years. Mary Lou passed away in 1998. Arnold subsequently married Donna Sorum, of Two Harbors, Minnesota, and they spent time traveling between the Opheim farm and their Two Harbors home on the banks of Lake Superior, as well as trips to Florida, the East Coast, and Europe. Arnold cared for Donna until her death in 2015. He then returned to the family farm and lived both there and at Prairie Ridge in Glasgow until his death. He spoke fondly of his extended family at Prairie Ridge and greatly enjoyed his time there socializing and painting. He was asked and honored to be the painting instructor at Prairie Ridge during his time there.
Arnold greatly enjoyed spending time with his many lifelong friends in Opheim as well as new friends he made in Two Harbors, but his time with his children and grandchildren, his siblings and his very special nieces and nephews, as well as Donna’s sons, was priceless to him. He also enjoyed fishing, playing cards, attending the sporting events of his children and grandchildren, and traveling, but his heart always led him back home to the family farm.
Arnold was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou; his wife, Donna Sorum; his parents; his siblings, Ellen Lenoir, Hazel McGaffey, and Dan Anderson. He is survived by his son Blake L. (Kim) Anderson; his daughter, Judith Anderson (Matt Simley); and his four grandchildren, Teal Hansard (Buc Weisert); Brandon (Darbi) Hansard, Chere and Mitchell Anderson, as well as his dear nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the North Valley EMA or a charity of your choice.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday March 4, 2018
Bell Mortuary
701 2nd Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Service
11:00 am
Tuesday March 6, 2018
Opheim Community Church
Opheim, Montana 59250
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday March 4, 2018
Bell Mortuary
701 2nd Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Service
11:00 am
Tuesday March 6, 2018
Opheim Community Church
Opheim, Montana 59250
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Steven St. John says
So very sorry to hear about Arnold. Here’s hoping him and my Dad are having a cold one.
Joy Erickson says
My uncle, Arnold, was one of the funniest guys. He loved playing tricks on us, his nieces and nephews. He was a big tease and could really get us going, much to the frustration of my mother. I will never forget a water fight that my mother and Arnold had. They flooded the kitchen of our house with water, finally took the water fight outside and continued on with hoses. My mother rarely got silly, only Arnold could cause that. He was always a kid at heart, the youngest in his family. In fifth grade I enjoyed detailing his 1950’s, powder blue and white Chevy when he was going out on a date. He would cut huge bouquets of lilacs in Spring to give to his date.
In summer at my Grandmother’s we would have bonfires on their driveway. We would roast marshmallows and sing songs. The Andersons were musical. We all loved singing the old, popular songs, and show tunes. Arnold always purchased huge boxes of fireworks for us. He acted as the pyrotechnician. What memories; what an adventuresome, fun fellow.
Joy Erickson says
Arnold had an amazing sense of humor. He was always a kid at heart. My sister, brothers and I always had such a great time with him. He would come into a room and focus on the kids. He was a big tease and could really get us going. He was very proud of his service in the Navy during the Korean war. After he returned, he enjoyed showing his slides of his time in Asia. He would travel to historical sites when he had shore leave. The Anderson family was very musical. We would spend summer evenings singing beside a bonfire. Arnold always provided a big selection of fireworks for the fourth of July. He would take on the role as pyrotechnician. He was a big tease. He loved teasing my Grandmother and all of us. He was a humorous adventurous person. I will miss him.
Karol Emmett says
So sorry to hear that two great men have passed on the same day and to such a great community… many memories… May the Lord give comfort to the Andersons…
Mary kjer says
Arnold was such a joy to have as a father in law. We loved all of our time with him. From fishing in lake of the woods to watching him put on his “umbrella” hat for Christmas. We did not get to spend as much time with him as we wanted but. Was never a dull time. He enjoyed arguing with Kyle his step grandson over fords and chevy’s. I aI. Enjoyed reading his family history. It was always a great time with him
Marylou Remington says
Thoughts and prayers to the Anderson families.