Richard "Dick" Arntz

Richard “Dick” Charles Arntz was born September 29, 1942; and passed away on January 28, 2018, in Fargo; at the age of 75. Dick was born to Vernon and Dorothy (Fortin) Arntz in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  At a young age, they moved to Burnstad, ND where he lived on family homestead land, in a dirt floor home with no plumbing. It was about 5 minutes from a Regional Park known as “Arntz Park” - established and care-taken by the Arntz family at Beaver Lake.  That park later became Beaver Lake State Park, and still is. At a young age Dick’s family relocated to Edgeley ND, closer to the Fortin family.  After some years later then, Dick’s family moved to Fargo, where he attended Fargo Central High School, became quite the athlete, and met many lasting connections in the city where he would take up residence.  Before settling though, Dick served our country by enlisting in the Army after High School, in December of 1960. Achieving the Rank of SP4; his service brought him to Massachusetts, Germany, and mostly France.  Among the many military stories he had, a favorite was how he played undefeatable ‘winner stays’ ping- pong just to stay in the warm rec area on a transport ship. He was also active in basketball and baseball leagues, and no doubt dominant in those, as well. He was honorably discharged from inactive duty in 1966. During inactive duty, Dick returned to Fargo where he met and married Judi Barnstable.  Soon followed Steven” Stevie” in 1965.  After his first marriage, he wed Jan Anderson, together sharing Jeffery “Jeffy” and Stacy in 1968, and 1970, respectively. Not-so-shortly later, in 1982, he and Lynn Morgan had a daughter, Elizabeth “Lizzy” 14 years to the day after Jeffery was born (March 29), both being exactly 6 months apart from Dick’s own birthday.  Tragically, Stevie died in 1983.   In 1988, Dick met Carol (Rechtiene) O’Neill, Grandma Sweetheart. They wed in 1991 and lived happily together until her passing in 2016. Dick was a jack-of-all trades and master of hobbies/activities. He was handy, always tinkering or thinking of how to be tinkering and organizing, especially in his garage sanctuary. He adored his golf cart, and made sure it was stocked with all sorts of bells and whistles to impress his grandkids on the Yonker Farm rides. Among his resume of jobs, his favorite was with Maintenance Engineering as a Collections Specialist. In the fun times, Dick excelled in fast and slow-pitch softball, playing for the heralded Empire Tavern team. He spent time at the local Bowling Lanes in an array of leagues, of course winning trophies, many with Grandma Sweetheart.  He was also an avid and nearly scratch golfer, who played many great courses across the area with Grandma Sweetheart and near-and-dear ones over the decades; even achieving an elusive hole-in-one on a par 3.  His love of golf even let him once ‘entertain’ the activity of Frisbee Golf, where he is likely the only person to use a golf cart (illegally ;) on Oak Grove Park Course. He and beloved Grandma Sweetheart also enjoyed a vibrant social life as members of the Elks Lodge, the Breakfast Club (8:01am), and a fraternity of great, enduring friends. They always had the Twins game on, and loved the Vikings/Football – so much so that he was a very early participant in Fantasy Football, with weekly paper rosters. And of course, he loved music, and boy-oh-boy could he dance, and dance… You don’t earn the nickname Disco Dick by accident. Dick is survived by his brother Larry (Erna) Deutz, and sister Carol (Bob) Anderson; children Jeff (Pepper) Arntz, Stacy (Roy) Peterson, Liz (Isaac) Johnson, Tim O’Neill, and Shannon O’Neill; his beloved Grandchildren Lexi, Tyler, McKenna, Sydney, Molly, Gunnar, Tobin, Josh, Drew, Madilynn, Lorelei, and Gus; and Great-Grandchildren Jace and Bella. Dick was proceeded in passing by his Father, Vernon; Mother, Dorothy; son Stevie; Grandson Ryan O’Neill; his beloved wife Carol, nephew, Erik Anderson and many Uncles and Aunts.