Arvid Bangen

Arvid Bangen, Bismarck, formerly of New Town, N.D., was granted peace by his Heavenly Father from his earthly bonds on October 25, 2012, at the Missouri Slope Care Center under the care of St. Alexius Hospice. His struggle with Alzheimer's took many physical and mental functions from him but never diminished his desire to return home and once again be close to the Bangen farm and the familiar surroundings that he loved. Services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 30, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, and at 11:00 am Wednesday, October 31, at Bethel Lutheran Church, New Town, with burial at the Grand Valley Lutheran Cemetery, south of New Town. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Tuesday at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck. Arvid Bangen was born October 5, 1921, to Hans Anton and Sara Berg Bangen on his parents homestead in Big Bend Township, Sanish, North Dakota. Arvid always said that his folks finished threshing their grain crop the same day he was born so he missed that harvest but he has been around for every harvest since then. He attended elementary school in a small rural school a mile from their farm and graduated from high school in Sanish, N.D. in 1939. Education was very important to him. Because his high school days came during the Great Depression, he and a friend rented a room in Sanish. By bringing food from home they could cook, eat, and sleep in that one room for $10.00 a month. When World War II started, two of his brothers joined the military so he spent the war years helping his father run the family farm which had grown in size over the years. It was the start of a profession that he thoroughly enjoyed for the rest of this life. For the next 40 years he farmed and ranched in partnership with his brother Howard. On December 27, 1944, he married Helen Margaret Howie in Sanish and they made their home on the Bangen homestead until moving into New Town in 1984. Arvid continue to be active in and around the farm for many years after their move. In 2010 they moved to Edgewood Village in Bismarck, N.D. Arvid is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen, Bismarck, N.D.; his daughter, Susan Bangen, Seattle, Wash.; his sons, David Pamela Bangen, Bismarck, N.D., Jeffrey Margie Bangen, New Town, N.D.; 6 grandchildren, Bradley Bangen, Heidi Bangen Bitz, Whitney Bangen, MacKenzie Bangen, Jake Bangen, and Billie Bangen; 4 great grandchildren, Elliot Bitz, Mason Bitz, Logan Bitz and Emma Bangen. He is also survived by his sisters; Ruth Richardson, Bismarck, N.D., and Thelma Collins, Vancouver, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Bruce Arvid Bangen; his parents, Hans Anton and Sara Bangen; his sister, Harriet Larson; and his brothers Howard Bangen, Rueben Bangen, and Leland Bangen. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Grand Valley Cemetery Association or donor's choice.

Arvid Bangen

October 5, 1921 - October 25, 2012