Arthur Thomas O'Connell , 91, Minot and formerly of Glenburn and Lansford died on Monday, February 9, 2009 in a Minot hospital.

Arthur was born on January 20, 1918 on a farm in Elms Township of Bottineau County north of Glenburn, ND to Morris and Marion (Cochrane) O'Connell. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from Glenburn High School in 1935. He attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks for three years and majored in accounting.

Art married Vivian Lorraine Underwood on July 1, 1940 in Sidney, MT. They made their home in Glenburn before moving to Chicago for a short time. They returned to Glenburn where he was employed at Weber's Market. They farmed and owned and operated the grocery store in Lansford before moving to the family farm in 1948. They moved into Glenburn in 1967 and to Minot in 1985. Art and Vivian had resided at the Wellington for the past several months, but for many years were often found having coffee with friends at Arrowhead Sunmart.

Art was a member of the First Presbyterian Church - Minot, Elms Township Board, Renville School Board Association, Glenburn Lions Club, Scottish Rite Bodies - Minot, Jefferson School District and Glenburn School Boards, Eagles Aerie, Lansford Masonic Lodge and served as the Elms Township Assessor. He especially enjoyed traveling and had visited 49 of the 50 states. He collected John Deere miniature tractors and was a sports fan and enjoyed gospel music and dancing. As evidenced by all of the organizations in which he was involved Art had a strong sense of community.

Art's loving family includes his wife of 68 years Vivian; daughters: Suellen (Jack) Johnston of Minot; Kathy (Mike) O'Keeffe of Bismarck; Colleen Sand of Bismarck; Pat (Rick) Rasnick of Melbourne FL and Joni (Nick) Kleven of Pasco WA; sons: Dan (Avis) O'Connell of Minot; Ken (Kathy) O'Connell of Branson Missouri and Jim (LaVonne) O'Connell of Goshen, IN; twenty grand children; seventeen great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Art joins, in heaven, his parents and four brothers: William, Dan, James and Basil O'Connell; granddaughter, Becky Wilson, and son-in-law, Randy Sand.

Funeral Service: Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in First Presbyterian Church - Minot.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens - Minot.
Visitation: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of plants and flowers memorials are preferred to the First Presbyterian Church or to the Parker Senior Citizens.