Arnold Oliver Skrivseth, 75, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, while working on a home improvement project at his residence in rural Blooming Prairie Minnesota.

Arnie is the first son, second child of Bendick and Christina (Halverson) Skrivseth born in Rako, Minnesota, July 9, 1939. Ben and Christina moved to Graceton where they lived and raised their family of eight children. Arnie attended school in Williams and had many fond memories from this time in his life, with his siblings, extended family and friends. During this time he and his siblings attended Sunday school and through this influence Arnie gave his life to the Lord and began a life of following him.

On April 8, 1960, Arnie married Leona Martin from Ladysmith, Wisconsin, and together raised five children. He apprenticed with Joni Beachy from Indiana as a painter of houses, barns and out buildings after which he built up a business that supported his family throughout the years. He was also licensed in 1968 and then ordained to the ministry in 1969 at Graceton Mennonite Church. He served there for six years before moving to the Blooming Prairie area in 1974, where he pastored the Prairie Mennonite church. Arnie was actively involved in the start of Maranatha Bible School in Lansing MN as well as taking the Bishop role in 1997 for Prairie Mennonite Church. Arnie and Leona gave many selfless hours of service in the work of the church and in the lives of many people through parenting, pastoring and painting.

Arnie drove bus for Blooming Prairie schools for 34 years and influenced many children and families. He will be greatly missed.

Arnie enjoyed collecting, restoring and teaching his family and friends about the old treasures of the past. He often had a current, clean Ollie and Lena joke to share with friends and family.

He is sadly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and cousins.

Arnie is survived by his wife Leona Skrivseth, Blooming Prairie, Minnesota; children Dawn (Ellis) Harshbarger, Austin, Minnesota; Ladina (John) Martin, Nashwauk, Minnesota; Trenda (Jerry) Yoder, Nashwauk, Minnesota; Maria (Doug) Weber, Stratford, Ontario, and Hans (Jo Anna Byler) Skrivseth, Newport, Washington. He is also survived by grandchildren, Jeremy and Elizabeth ( Parvi) Harshbarger, Bridger, Montana, Evan and Chelsea (Taylor) Harshbarger, Dexter, Minnesota, Deanne Harshbarger, Trout Creek, Montana, Jorgan Harshbarger, Trout Creek, Montana, Krysta Harshbarger, Jeremy and Janine Stutzman, Pengilly, Minnesota, Jesse and Bessie (Weaver) Martin, Milton, Pennsylvania, Jed and Sheri (Stauffer) Martin, Marble, Minnesota, Jerry and Mandy (Arlt) Martin, Nashwauk, Minnesota, Robin and Londa (Warwas) Yoder, Nashwauk, Minnesota, Kirby and Heather (Gingerich) Yoder, Nashwauk, Minnesota, Patrick Yoder and fiancé Taylor Maasch, Nashwauk, Minnesota, Brooke Yoder, Jaimie, Joshua and Nicholas Weber, Stratford, Ontario, Timothy, Christopher, Adam and Hannah Skrivseth, Newport, Washington. He is also survived by great-grandchildren, Jensen and Julian Stutzman, Walker Martin, Joshua and Jonathan Martin. He is survived by seven siblings, Norma Ash, Bay Tree, AB, Lloyd and Sharon Martin, Mc Connellsburg, Pennsylvania; Sid and Ruth Skrivseth, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Amos and Carol Kauffman, Sheldon, Wisconsin; John and Jo Ellen Weaver, Boyceville, Minnesota; Nelson and Rhoda Martin, Glen Flora, Wisconsin; and Dave and Leah Darnel, Duluth, Minnesota.

Arnie is predeceased by his parents, Ben (1994) and Christina (2005) Skrivseth; a brother, Philip Skrivseth, (1957).

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, at the Czaplewski Funeral Home, 501 2nd ST NW Hayfield, MN.

A funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 2, 2014, at the First Lutheran Church, 434 1st St SW Blooming Prairie, Minnesota.

Interment to follow at Westfield Lutheran Cemetery. Blessed be his memory.