Arnold Peeders

Arnold Thor Peeders passed away quietly on Monday, September 16, 2024, at Park Garden Assisted Living after an extended battle with prostate cancer.

He was born August 21, 1947, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, the third son of Christian and Esther Peeders. He grew up in a vibrant Norwegian-American immigrant community in Bay Ridge, anchored in what was known as 59th street Lutheran Brethren Church, officially the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of 59th street where he was baptized and confirmed.

He attended New York City Public Schools, graduating from Fort Hamilton High School in June,1965. Following that, he attended the Lutheran Brethren Bible School in Fergus Falls and Moorhead State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1973 and his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1989, doing his practice teaching at the Fergus Falls High School.

On September 20, 1986, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Marilyn Schnieder at LBC in Fergus Falls. They moved to Plattsburgh, New York, in 1989, where he taught at Plattsburgh High School, then to the Alamosa, Colorado area, Marilyn’s hometown, where he also taught.

Arnold and Marilyn eventually moved back to the Twin Cities area where he finished his working career as Regional Manager for Capstone Research Inc, and Marilyn served as an organist and pianist at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church where Arnold also served for many years as an usher. The two of them loved their fellowship and service times at Mount Olivet and especially their trips to the church’s retreat center at Cathedral of the Pines in Lutsen, Minnesota.

Marilyn succumbed to cancer in September 2009. Their 23 years of marriage was the cornerstone of his remaining years.

Arnold was an avid sports fan and loved playing stickball and other urban sports on the streets of Brooklyn as a kid. He loved the Brooklyn Dodgers until they left for Los Angeles, then his loyalties shifted to the NY Mets finally resting on the Minnesota Twins, the Vikings and the Wild. But his greatest passion was to follow his nephews during their playing times with the Fergus Falls Otters.

Arnold was a man of faith which was exhibited in his service at Mount Olivet and in his day-to-day kindnesses. He rejoiced with his nieces, nephews, and later in life with his considerable flock of grandnephews and grandnieces. And he hurt with them when they hurt. His family will remember his tender heart, and he will be missed.

His family will always be grateful to the staff and residents at Park Garden whose care and love during the last years of his life sustained him and gave him joy. Also a special thanks to Knute-Nelson Hospice for their wonderful care. 

He is survived by one brother, Ken (Norma) of Fergus Falls, several nieces and nephews: Gail Childs (Brad) of Wildwood, MO, Karen Murphy of Fergus Falls, Hans Peeders (Ashley) of Fort Worth, TX, Paul Peeders (Monica) of DeForest, WI, James Peeders (Jodi) of Albuquerque, NM, Luther Pedersen (Niina) of Oslo, Norway and numerous grand and great grand nieces and nephews. Blessed be the Memory of Arnold Peeders.

Memorial Service: 11 a.m., Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. 

The family of Arnold has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Cathedral of the Pines, Lutheran Brethren Seminary, or Lake Region Cancer Center. 

Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN

Funeral arrangements are entrusted with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.