Arne Johannes Mahle, 83, Minot and formerly of Denbigh died on Sunday, September 13, 2009 in a Minot nursing home.

Arne was born on April 9, 1926 in Denbigh, North Dakota to Sever and Karina (Eikesdahl) Mahle. He was raised and educated in Denbigh and as a young adult he was employed by area farmers.

Arne was inducted into the U.S. Army on October 27, 1950 and served as an artillery handler during the Korean Conflict until he received his honorable discharge as a Corporal on September 9, 1952. Following his discharge he was employed as a heavy equipment operator in the Minot area and at the Garrison Dam. Arne was once married to Valda Brummond whom he married on June 8, 1955 in Towner. From 1962 - 1971, he was employed by Boeing on missile sites throughout ND and by construction construction companies at Minot Air force Base. Then, he was employed as a heavy equipment operator at the Coal Creek Power Plant and Coal Gasification Plant near Beulah, other power plants in the region and for Boeing. He retired in 1984 and continued to reside on the east edge of Minot for many years prior to moving to the Dakota Terrace Apartments in 2003 .

Arne was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church - Surrey, V.F.W., American Legion, Sons of Norway, Surrey Senior Citizens and Operating Engineers Union for 35 years. He was a former member of the Eagles Aerie and Moose Lodge. He especially enjoyed camping, gardening, traveling, woodworking and leather crafting as well as playing steel guitar, keyboard and accordion and singing. He cut his first record with Duncan and Bill when he was 16 years old. He was especially proud of his Norwegian heritage, traveling to Norway in 1984 with his sister Selma and 1999 with Orrin and Morris Holen. He served as a volunteer for the first 25 years of the Norsk Hostfest.

Surviving family includes his children: June (Kris) Spaulding of Minot, Raymond (Peggy) Mahle of Sioux Falls, SD, Valerie (Ron) Burgard of Minot and Michael (Amber) Mahle of Rapid City, SD; longtime friend Vi Hosie; grandchildren: Shawn (Lisa) Olson, Chad Olson, Angela (Jamie) Chitolie, Allison Olson, Lori (Nathan) Iveland, Christina (Brian) Wagner, Mindy Mahle, Jessica (Mike) Merchant, Becky (Bryan) Banfill, Shawn Michael, Tyler, Sheridan, Michael and Madison Mahle; great grandchildren: Emily and Elizabeth Olson, Patience and Melia Chitolie, Justice and Jordan Olson, Finn Iveland, Hannah and Hunter Wagner and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arne was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Selma Thompson, Nora Best and Anna Jones; brother: Magnus Mahle, granddaughter: Lisa Mahle and great grandson: Chase Olson.

Funeral Service: Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in Hope Lutheran Church - Surrey.
Graveside Service: Thursday at 1:15 p.m. in the Granville Community Cemetery.
Visitation: Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.