Margaret Mary "Marge" Arntson

Margaret Mary “Marge” Arntson, 100, New Rockford, ND, passed from this world to join God and her beloved husband Arne on the anniversary of Arne’s birthday, Feb. 15, 2018. Marge was born on September 11, 1917, in New Rockford, ND, as the third child and oldest daughter of Warren and Elizabeth Day. She graduated from St. James Academy in New Rockford and briefly worked in the Eddy County courthouse where she met the love of her life, Edgar Marshall “Arne” Arntson, whom she married on October 10, 1938, at St. John’s Catholic Church in New Rockford. Early on, Marge and Arne lived in LaMoure, ND, and Bismarck, ND, and they had two children, a daughter Karen and son Jon. When Arne was called to serve in World War II for four years as an Army Corps engineer in the European and African theaters, Marge moved back to New Rockford with their two young children to be near her family. After the war, Arne rejoined his family and in 1948, they purchased their lifelong home in New Rockford. In addition to raising her family, Marge ran the medical records department of the former New Rockford Hospital, was a founding member and past officer of the New Rockford Women’s Auxiliary Cemetery Association, and an active member of the Altar Society of St. John’s Catholic Church. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the New Rockford Red Hat Society. Marge was an avid golfer, loved to host family parties and gatherings, and constantly read newspapers and fiction, often with three or four books in progress at once. Her life spanned from riding in an open-cockpit biplane as a teenager to gaming and video chatting on her iPad well into in her late 90s. Marge was a woman of deep and abiding Catholic faith who dearly loved and believed in the God-given qualities of every member of her family, and consistently noted their birthdays and anniversaries. She was delighted that more than 100 family members and friends from across the United States could join her in Fargo in 2017 for a grand 100th birthday party for her! Especially in her later years, Marge inspired all around her with her strength and belief in God’s provision in every part of her life, no matter the circumstances. She will be remembered fondly for her generous smile, tender heart, warm hospitality, soul-satisfying meals and lifelong zest for learning. Marge is survived by her daughter Karen (Bill) McDonnell, Altoona, Wis., and son Jon (Mary) Arntson, Maple Grove, Minn.; her sister Lucille Nathan, Minot, ND; seven grandchildren: Sean (Britt) McDonnell, Jean (David) Coatney, Colleen (Tad) Brown, Jeff (Kari) Arntson, Liz (Randy) Nichols, David (Sarah) Arntson and Stephen Arntson; and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins from the Day and Arntson families. Marge was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Edgar Marshall “Arne” Arntson, her parents Warren and Elizabeth Day, brothers Emmett Day, Edwin “Ed” Day, Jack Day, William “Bill” Day and Gerald “Gerry” Day, and sister Elizabeth “Betty” Akin. Regarding her family and life experiences, Marge often quoted her brother Bill: “Weren’t we so lucky?!” Marge’s family would like to particularly thank the staff and clergy of Villa Maria and Riverview Place in Fargo, where Marge resided for the past three years, Marge’s neighbors and friends in New Rockford who regularly checked in on her in her later years, and Father Bernard Pfau, former pastor of St. John’s Catholic Church in New Rockford. In lieu of flowers, Marge’s family requests that memorials in her honor be directed to The Women’s Auxiliary Cemetery Association of New Rockford.