Arnold "Arnie" Kruse

Arnold Kruse, age 86, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Lennox, South Dakota passed away Saturday, February 15, 2020, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls after a long battle with heart disease. Arnold Arthur Kruse was born to Christ and Emma (Schwantes) Kruse near Wabasso, MN on June 27, 1933, and spent his childhood years in the rural Morton and Wabasso, MN communities. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Wabasso. He graduated from Wabasso High School in 1951 where he played football and basketball for the White Rabbits. Arnold married Audrey Marie Bangerter on July 19, 1953, in Wabasso, MN. Together, Arnie and Audrey raised six sons. Audrey passed away December 27, 2009, after 56 years of marriage. The son of a carpenter, Arnie began his career after high school working at the local lumberyard in Wabasso. Arnie worked in the lumber business for over 50 years and was the manager for Great Plains Supply in Marshall, MN; Hazel, SD; Canton, SD; Alcester, SD; and Lennox, SD before becoming a co-founder of Kruse Building Center in Lennox, Canton and Beresford, SD with his son Craig in 1985. He enjoyed his many friendships with his employees, customers and vendors as well as working alongside his sons on a day-to-day basis at the yard. As his sons and grandsons grew up, many were employed at the lumberyards in the summer and on Saturdays, and they loved working with their Dad and Grandpa Arnie. Arnie was a family man, spending time on family building projects, attending family sporting events, camping, bowling, snowmobiling and playing cards with friends and in his later years he enjoyed golf. He served on the Alcester School Board, was a member of the Alcester Fire Department and was also a member of both the Lennox Community Development Board and Lennox Commercial Club. Arnie was honored as Lumberman of the Year in 1993 by the South Dakota Retail Lumber Association. He was a faithful member of the First English Lutheran Church in Lennox for 38 years. Arnie was preceded in death by his parents and wife, his son Craig, and his brothers Donald, Norman and Gordon Kruse. Celebrating his life are his five sons: Gary (Ramona), Inwood, IA, Brad (Mary Jo), Manson, IA, Patrick (Cheryl), Phoenix, AZ, Scott (Nancy) Beresford, SD, Paul (Laurie), Lennox and daughter-in-law, Jane Kruse of Sioux Falls. He was the proud grandfather of 20 grandchildren (Jessica, Jake, Jeremy, Adam, Sarah, Jon, Nicholas, Ryan, Steven, Andrew, Benjamin, Allison, Brock, Jason, Tiffany, Nicole, Christopher, Kayla, Jordanna, and Matthew) and 19 great-grandchildren (Elliot, Reece, Connor, Maxwell, Alex, Nolan, Landon, Mabel, Braxton, Brynn, Jackson, Nathaniel, Audra, Owen, Gavin, Stella, Beckett, Cash and Paxton.) He is also survived by a sister, Mary Lou Kruse of Belle Plaine, MN and a host of other relatives and friends. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February. 19 at First English Lutheran Church, Lennox with burial to follow in the Lennox Cemetery. Visitation, with the family present, will be Tuesday 5 to 7 p.m., with a sharing time at 7 p.m., also at First English Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers memorials are requested to the First English Lutheran Church Building Fund.

Arnold "Arnie" Kruse

June 27, 1933 - February 15, 2020

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