Art Arp

Art Arp, age 97 of Spearfish, went home to heaven on Friday, July 22, 2022 at the Fountain Springs Health Care Center in Rapid City.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:30 A.M. Thursday, July 28, 2022 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.  There will be no visitation.  Inurnment will take place in Pine Slope Cemetery.  Friends may leave written condolences online at: www.LeveringtonFH.com

Albert Arthur Arp was born October 28, 1924 in Winner South Dakota.  He was the son of Albert and Alice (Smith) Arp.  At a young age, Art moved with his family to Okaton SD.  Later, the family moved to Gaston Oregon, where Art graduated from high school.  During those years in high school, Art worked hard to support his family.  He hauled onions to warehouses and also painted Victory Ships.  After graduating from high school, Art moved back to Okaton and that is where he met the love of his life, Esther Kessler.  Art and Ester were united in marriage in December of 1945 at Pastor Graves home in Murdo.  Together they enjoyed 77 years of marriage.  To this union was born two sons: Lonnie Ray, and Allen.  In 1950, Art and Esther moved to Belle Fourche, where both of them worked at American Colloid.  Art was a mechanic and a welder, and he was very talented at it.  In 1975 he suffered a heart attack and was forced into early retirement due to his health.  His doctor gave him only five years to live.  But God wasn’t done with him yet.  For ten years, Art and Esther volunteered at South Park school in Belle Fourche.  Many kids called him, “Grandpa Art”, and he loved it.  Art primarily watched over the 4^th graders, while Esther took care of the 3^rd graders.  Those were precious years to them.  They loved those kids.  Art had another talent, and it was working with wood.  He enjoyed carving canes out of Diamond Willow wood, and they were amazing.  Since 2011, Art and Esther have lived in Spearfish. 

Art Arp was the definition of a gentleman.  He was kind, caring, and when he spoke you would listen.  He was a godly man as well, and his faith was vital to him.  Art will be missed by many and forever loved by everyone who knew him.

Art is survived by his wife Esther of Spearfish; daughter-in-law, Kathy Bohn Arp of Spearfish; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Lonnie Ray and Allen; brothers, Elmer, Ed, Roy; and sister, Hazel Hatfield.

Celebration of Life Service

10:30 A.M. – Thursday – July 28, 2022

Leverington Funeral Home

of the Northern Hills

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Officiant

Mark Leverington

Special Music

“Come to Jesus”

Debra Leverington, soloist

“The Old Rugged Cross”, “I’ll Fly Away”

(Recorded)

Inurnment

Pine Slope Cemetery

Belle Fourche, South Dakota