Arnold Slaamot - Everson – Coughlin Funeral Home

Arnie's favorite scripture...
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
~Psalm 46:1~
In Memory Of
Arnold is survived by sister, Evelyn, Houston, TX,
sister-in-law, Josephine Stangland, Williston; sons,
Marty (Ruth) of Alexandria, MN, Stephen (Karen),
Harvey, ND, Irving, Sisseton, SD; daughters, Arleen
(Dave) Finders, Williston, Koreen (Robert) Williams,
Andover, MN; daughter-in-law, Mona Slaamot, Chula
Vista, CA; 24 grandchildren, 37 great- grandchildren,
many nieces and nephews and many friends.
Arnold Slaamot
1918-2016
Arnie will be deeply missed by all.
Blessed be his memory.
Arnie's Motto For Life:
"You Only Keep What
You Give Away"
Arnie was born on September 5, 1918 on the homestead farm in Bonetraill, ND
to Martin and Elfreda (Borstad) Slaamot. He was baptized March 9, 1919 at Bethania
Lutheran Church, northwest of Williston, and was confirmed at the St. Paul Lutheran
Church, rural Williston.
He was raised on the family farm where he learned to take care of livestock,
plow fields, plant crops in the spring and harvest in the fall. He went to grade school
at Formosa School in Barr Butte Township, where he enjoyed playing accordion with
his grade school band.
His mother and father died young, when he was 5 and 9 years old, respectively.
He continued to farm on the homestead along with his stepmother, Margaret
(Helland) Slaamot, his brother, Emry, and his sisters, Evelyn & Eleanor. They farmed
first with a four horse hitch, eventually farming with a tractor. His first tractor was an
"A" International.
As a young man, he worked on riprapping in 1937 on the Missouri River for the
WPA program.
When he was 17, he was a farmhand for Douglas Sutton, father of Allen Sutton.
Arnie was very musical, playing guitar, harmonica and accordion for community
functions.
Arnie married Karen Kingstad on June 30, 1944 at her farm home south of Zahl,
ND. Together they built their new farm in Hanks, ND where he continued farming.
A highlight in the farming year for Arnie and his two oldest boys, Marty and Arnold
Jr. was taking them out of school on John Deere Day, where they got to watch a
movie together and have a good lunch. He also gave the boys a chocolate malt, once
a year, after the harvest was done.
In 1967, Arnie and Karen moved an old house from Bonetraill into Williston
where they finished raising their family, along with farming at the farm in Hanks.
Arnie was a very hard working man, as honest as the day is long and loved joking
with people. Arnie had a friend, Jack Trosen, with whom he formed a comical
business, "Faulty Construction", remodeling Arnie and Karen's new house they had
moved into Williston from Bonetraill,ND.
Arnie loved to blow snow for all his neighbors up and down the block, including
his church, LBFC, which was a half block away at the time.
His new hobby became woodworking, and he became a member of the Williston
Woodworkers Club. Several times he won a purple or blue ribbon on his scroll saw
work.
Arnie loved it when his family all came home and they had "music nights" together.
He enjoyed playing duets on his accordion accompanied by his daughter, Koreen,
son, Steve on the guitar, and son, Irving on the harmonica.
He was proud of all his children and grandchildren and loved them all
unconditionally.
When Arnie was in his eighties and thinking of retiring, he had asked his daughter,
Arleen, if she thought people would think he was lazy if he quit farming that soon.
When the front axle on the combine broke in 2006 as he was going around the last
row in his field, he said he guessed that was a sign that he was supposed to quit
farming. He was 87 at the time.
He was a man who loved God, and prayed for his children and grandchildren
every day. Arnie was a member of Lutheran Brethren Fellowship Church where he
enjoyed the people and loved worshiping the Lord. He was always thankful in every
situation , careful not to blame God for failed crops or hardships. His motto in life
was, "You only keep what you give away ".
Arnold was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother; brother, Emry; sister,
Eleanor; infant granddaughter, Michelle; wife Karen of 45 years; son, Arnold Jr, and
daughter-in-law Gloria.
In Memory Of
Arnold Morris Slaamot
Date and Place of Birth
September 5, 1918 ~ Bonetraill, North Dakota
Date and Place of Death
March 13, 2016 ~ Williston, North Dakota
His Funeral Service
Lutheran Brethren Church
Williston , North Dakota
Friday, March 18, 2016
2:00 PM
O ciating
Ron Erickson ~ Jack Trosen
Musicians
Jim & Karen Borseth
Irv Slaamot
Casket Bearers
Allen Sutton ~ Billy Owan ~ Jim Larson
Arvid Johnson ~ Dale Mischke ~ Loren Vallevik
His Final Resting Place
Riverview Cemetery ~ Williston, North Dakota