Anita L. Arndt

Anita Louise Miller Arndt, Moorhead, MN, passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2014, in Eventide Senior Living Community.

Anita was the fourth of six children born to Herbert and Myrtle Miller of Appleton Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Appleton. After graduating from Appleton High School, she followed the family tradition, like all of her siblings, graduated from Moorhead State College with a major in Education. Beside class, she loved campus life – serving on the Student Commission, as sorority president, and acting in a college theater production. She worked in the college bookstore and cafeteria, cleaned houses, and babysat.

Anita and Dennis W. Arndt eloped and were married while Dennis was on leave from the Army on December 27, 1960. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December 2010 in Florida with family. Dennis and Anita made their first home in Stuttgart, Germany while Dennis served in the Army, and were blessed with the birth of their son, Michael Paul in 1962.

Anita taught school in Columbia Heights, MN; Fargo, ND Horace Mann; and Moorhead, MN George Washington Elem. for 30 years. They welcomed daughter Mia Louise, born in Moorhead in 1967.

In 1993, Anita participated in a national study by having a bone-marrow transplant at the University of Minnesota Hospital to help determine the best treatment for breast cancer. She was a 21 year cancer survivor.

They enjoyed lake homes on Tamarack Lake, South Lida Lake and Lake of the Woods. Dennis and Anita loved to travel together and with family and friends. They toured the U.S., all seven continents and spent winters in Arizona, Alabama, California and Florida.

Anita loved her church, Christ the King, its pastors and many church activities. She was especially thankful for the Sara Circle, Alter Guild and Faithfully Fit Forever exercise class.

Her retirement in 1998 from teaching gave her more time with Dennis for travel and her 5 grandchildren – it was her greatest delight to attend their various activities. Also retirement meant many more luncheons with friends, retired Moorhead Area Educators, and George Washington teachers breakfast club, attending theater productions. She loved to attend the Town Hall lecture series, and lunch with special friends afterwards.

She enjoyed a wonderful life in a wonderful world.

Survivors are: devoted husband, Dennis; son, Michael Julie Arndt, Valrico, FL; daughter, Mia Neal Blanchett, Edina, MN; sisters, Marlene John Kjera, Fifty Lakes, and Betty Ed Peterson, Elk River, MN; sisters-in-law, Orva Krause, Lidgerwood, ND, Margaret Mohr, Moorhead, Ginny Miller, Eloise Miller and Barb Miller; grandchildren, Emily Fran Stage, Kristina Arndt, and Ivy, August and Jasper Blanchett; and many special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Ronald, Donald and Robert.

Visitation: Sunday, July 27, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., with prayer service at 7 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.
Funeral: Monday, July 28, at 11:00 a.m., in the Lutheran Church of Christ the King, Moorhead, MN.
Interment: Columbarium at the Lutheran Church of Christ the King.

Video tribute and online guestbook at www.wrightfuneral.com