Reverend Arnold Spain

The Reverend Arnold Spain died Tuesday, April 18, 2006, in Apache Junction, Ariz. He was 86 years of age. He had been in failing health for the past year. Visitation will be held from 1-5 PM Sunday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. A vigil service will be held Sunday, April 23, 2006, at 7:00 P.M. CDT, at Church of Ascension in Bismarck, with Reverend Marvin Klemmer presiding. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 24, 2006, at 12:00 p.m. CDT at Church of Ascension in Bismarck. Bishop Paul A. Zipfel will be presider and homilist. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck. Pallbearers will be the Reverends George Dukart, Marvin Klemmer, David Morman, Gary Benz, Edwin Wehner and John Pfeifer. Father Spain was born on January 10, 1920, at Sherwood, the son of Thomas James and Nellie Rose Haney Spain. The family moved to Minot where Arnie attended Sunnyside Public School and St. Leo's Catholic School, from which he graduated in 1938. He then attended Minot State Teacher's College for two years after which he entered Crosier Seminary in Onamia, MN. He received his theological training at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, MN, graduating in 1947 with a B.A. degree. Father Spain was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Bismarck on May 27, 1947, at the Church of St. Leo, Minot, by Bishop Vincent Ryan. His first assignment following ordination was as assistant at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, where he served from 1947 to 1956. During those years he was editor of the Dakota Catholic Action newspaper from 1949 to 1955, and also served as principal of Cathedral Grade School in 1949. He served as administrator of the Church of St. Pius, New Salem from 1956 to 1957. On July 1, 1957, Father Spain was named the founding pastor of the Church of St. Anne, Bismarck, where he served until June 30, 1990, when he retired. Father Spain was the director of vocations for the Diocese of Bismarck from 1947 to 1961 and also served as a pro-synodal judge of the Tribunal in 1962. He did graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, MN, in the summer of 1954. Following his retirement, Father Spain resided in Bismarck and wintered in Arizona. For the past 16 years he assisted with Masses at the Church of Ascension in Bismarck. Father Spain is survived by two nieces, Judith Carlson, Minot, and Joann Lavelle, Mesa, AZ; a nephew, Jim Spain, Minot; along with many longtime friends.

Reverend Arnold Spain

January 10, 1920 - April 18, 2006