Reverend Doctor Arthur John Louis Meether

Arthur Meether, age 92, of Fergus Falls, died Friday, July 15, 2016 at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Arthur Meether was born on March 4, 1924, in Hawarden, Iowa, the son of Edwin and Elizabeth (Tieden) Meether. He graduated from Hawarden High School in 1942, and entered the United States Army in October 1942 and was sent to England after completing basic training. Arthur served with the same unit until the end of the World War II rising to the rank of First Sergeant. Arthur made the U.S. Army a career serving during World War II and the Korean Conflict rising to the Rank of Major when he retired in September of 1964. On September 3, 1950, Arthur united in marriage to Marion Ostermeyer at her family home in Albuquerque, New Mexico while in the U.S. Army assigned to a Special Weapons Unit at Sandia Base near Albuquerque. After their marriage the couple lived in Albuquerque, NM; Killeen, TX; Alexandria, VA; Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN; and Frankfurt, Germany. He attended Army Language School in Monterey, CA studying Chinese Cantonese. Arthur also served as an interpreter/translator in the service speaking French, German, Russian, Chinese and several Scandinavian tongues and could read Greek, Hebrew and Latin. Arthur completed a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Maryland in 1959 while still in the military. When Arthur retired from the Armed Forces he felt called to the ministry and went on to complete a Masters of Divinity in 1968 from Wartburg Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Aquinas Institute of Theology in 1973.

Rev. Dr. Arthur Meether served Buffalo/Tower City Lutheran Parish from 1969-1980 then transferred to Gackle, ND, where he served until he retired and moved to Fergus Falls, MN.
Arthur was an active member of Augustana Lutheran Church. He enjoyed playing and teaching chess, reading, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. Faith in Jesus Christ, education, and family were very important to him.

Survivors include his three daughters: Christine (Mrs. Darrel) Tungseth, and Charlotte (Mrs. Steve) Rekken, both of Fergus Falls; and Carolyn (Mrs. Loren) Simons of Ireton, Iowa; his brother, Duane Meether of Hawarden, IA; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marion, of 52 years, his brothers John and Marvin Meether, sister-in-law Ruth Pyetzki, and son-in-law, Steve Rekken.

Visitation: 10:00-11:00 AM on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at Augustana Lutheran Church
Service: 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Ben Durbin
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens in Fergus Falls, MN
Military Participation: Fergus Falls American Legion Post #30 and VFW Post #612
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN