Edward Leroy Arneson, 70

Edward “Ed” Arneson of Kalispell passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family and close friends in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Jan. 12, 2015, after a lifelong battle with diabetes and, more recently, kidney disease.  

Ed was born on July 20, 1944, in Kalispell to Ryder and Aldena Arneson. Ed and his wife Marvalee have been retired since 1999 after owning and operating ABC Collectors, Inc. in Kalispell for over 25 years.  Ed graduated from Flathead County High School in 1962.  

He married Marvalee Andersen on Oct. 20, 1968, and is survived by Marvalee. Also surviving are sons, Jeff and Mike, daughters-in-law, Sharon and Angela, and three grandchildren Jarek, Rachel and Dylan.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ryder and Aldena Arneson; and his brother, Ron Arneson.  

As a member of the community, Ed was well known for his involvement in several volunteer services, including the Sunriser Lions Club where he served for years helping donate back to the valley in various ways. Ed enjoyed helping young people learn and grow and spent several years coaching youth baseball. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying camping, fishing and hunting with his sons Jeff and Mike and close friends. He also very much enjoyed spending many years at their cabin on Little Bitterroot Lake. 

Retirement allowed him the time to revisit his childhood love of music. Ed was a talented musician and singer and became the “go to” person for musical entertainment throughout his and Marvalee’s network of friends.

A memorial service for Ed will be held in Kalispell during the spring of 2015, as the family wants to share in a celebration of Ed's life with family and friends. The dates for the service and additional information will be published in the near future.

To honor Ed's commitment and past involvement in youth sports, please send memorials to Kalispell Pee Wee Baseball League, Inc., P.O. Box 666, Kalispell, MT 59903-0666.