Robert F. Arnold, 80, of rural Osage, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at his Toad Lake Home on Sunday, October 11 2009 under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley and surrounded by his loving family.
Bob was born on June 22, 1929, the son of John and Marie (Barta) Arnold on their farm, near Hawley, Minnesota. He attended Hawley High School, graduating in 1947. Bob received his Bachelor and Master Degree from Moorhead State College.
Bob was united in marriage to Diane Swenson in 1950. In 1951, he joined the North Dakota Air Guard and served two years during the Korean War. Bob taught elementary school in Lake City and Richfield, Minnesota. He was named Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 1965. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Moorhead State University in 1970. Bob was elected President of the Minnesota Teacher Association (MEA) in 1970 and named Executive Director of the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association in 1972 and served as executive director, until retiring in 1991. He also served on numerous State and National Department of Education Committees and task forces.
During his retirement years, Bob was active and served a term as president in the Becker County Sportsman’s Club and the Toad Lake Improvement Association. Bob’s fondest memories were of bow hunting with his sons, duck hunting, deer hunting and pheasant hunting with his grandsons and working with his dearest Diane, building their lake home on Toad Lake.
Bob is survived by his wife Diane Arnold of rural Osage, Minnesota; three sons, Steve (Michelle) Arnold of Bismarck, North Dakota; Barry Arnold of rural Osage, Minnesota; Mark (Heidi) Arnold of rural Osage, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, one sister, Katherine Arnold of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Richard, sisters, Mary Jean Miller and Audrey McFadyen and daughter-in-law, Ramona Arnold.
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