Milton A. Arneson

Milton A. Arneson Colonel USAF (Retired)

4542 4^th St. So., Moorhead, MN 56560

Milt passed away on Monday, June 8, 2020 at home surrounded by his family.  Milt was born April 30, 1928 in Ross, MN to Olaf and Jennie (Byfuglien) Arneson. After only one year at Concordia College, Moorhead MN, Milt was inducted into the Army Air Corps. In September 1948 he entered pilot training and in June 1949 he was commissioned in the Air Force as a 2^nd Lieutenant and assigned to McChord AFB as a C-54 Pilot.

While at Concordia College Milt met Armorel (Army) Edythe Bahe and they were married on October 16, 1949 in Perley MN.  Together they began an Air Force career that would span 27 years and take them and their family to Washington State, Alabama, France, Japan, Korea, Delaware, Philippines, Hawaii, Vietnam, Virginia, and culminated at the Pentagon in Washington DC. During his military service he flew over 125 combat missions in Korea and another 100 in Vietnam.

Milt’s strong faith kept him connected and very active in both local churches and military chapels, preaching, teaching Sunday school and singing in the choirs. His guitar was never very far away.

Retiring in 1973, they moved home to Ross to farm with his father and brothers. Milt served for 8 years as mayor of Roseau, MN, served as commander of the American Legion, Director of the Pioneer Farm Board and Roseau County Fair Board and was active in the VFW and Roseau Lions.

Milt and Army moved to Moorhead from Roseau in 1993. Milt was Director/CEO of the International Coalition of Soil and Water Stewardship, today known as Red River Basin Commission, where he was inducted into the Water Management Leadership Hall of Fame in January 2010.  Milt was also a member and Past President of the Moorhead Noon Kiwanis.

Milt continued his strong ties to the church as a member of Atonement Lutheran in Fargo, ND. Milt was very active in Men’s Bible Study and as a mentor of the High School youth in the Elevate Program. His belief in the Ministry lead him to develop the “Milton and Armorel Arneson Seminary Scholarship Fund (MAASSF)”.

Milt is survived by his four children, Debra Parks of Moorhead, Barbara (Jerry) Yutrzenka of Vermillion, SD, Milt Jr. (Brenda) of Audubon, MN, and Michelle (Mike) Solsten of Fosston, MN; his seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren; his brother Glen (Donna) Arneson, sisters-in-law Marlys Arneson, Gwen Dunleavy, and Ruth Albertson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Atonement Lutheran Church (Fargo, ND) with the notation “for the Milton and Armorel Arneson Seminary Scholarship Fund”.  A private memorial service will be held on Friday, June 19, 2020 with a livestream available at 2:00 P.M. on his obituary page at www.wrightfuneral.com.