Arthur E. Houston, 95 of Red Wing, Minn., died after a long battle with emphysema on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at Lake City Care Center, Lake City, Minn.

The third of four children, he was born on Sept. 15, 1916, to Hanno Elmer and Hanna Victoria (Johansson) Houston in Duluth, Minn.

After the family moved to Austin in 1928, Art attended Austin High School and got his first job at Hormel Foods Corp., where he worked in the beef boning division for 18 years (1933-51). He then worked as a custodian/janitor for several employers around the Austin area, including Austin Public Schools (1951-58), Austin Medical Clinic (1958-62), and First Baptist Church (1964-65).

He married Fern (Davison) Hoium on August 9, 1956, in Albert Lea, Minn., and they resided in Austin until moving to Colorado in 1965.

While living at various locations in Longmont and Boulder, Colo., over a period of 36 years (1965-2001), Art did custodial work for Boulder Public Schools (1965-68) and at the Golden West senior citizens’ apartment complex in Boulder from 1968 until his retirement in 1991.

Art and Fern enjoyed camping, hiking in the Rockies, and going on bus tours throughout the country and into Canada. They relocated to Red Wing in 2001, and Art was admitted to Lake City Care Center nursing home facility in late December 2004.

He was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Red Wing.

Survivors include his wife Fern Houston, Red Wing, Minn.; son: (by a previous marriage) Jeff Houston, Austin, Minn.; stepson: Dale Hoium, Red Wing, Minn.; stepdaughters-in-law: Nancy Hoium, Red Wing, Minn., and Judith Hoium, Loveland, Colo.; step-granddaughters: Valery Hoium, Hager City, Wis., and Karen (Charles) Hyde, Ontario, Calif.; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Art was preceded in death by his sister, Olive Nelson, brothers, Gilbert Houston, and Robert Houston, stepson, Marland Hoium.

A graveside funeral service will be held at 2:45 p.m. on Monday, July 2, at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin with Pastor Donald Mikitta from Red Wing officiating.  Friends may greet the family at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Monday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.