Richard Lee Arnold

Richard Lee Arnold was born on April 7, 1931 and passed away on May 11, 2017. He was born to Curtin and Lillian Arnold, on a farm in a small community of Orafino, Nebraska. Richard (Dick) attended rural country school until going to High School in Cambridge, where he always excelled in his school work.

Before entering the United States Marine Corp, Dick was the office manager for an earthen dam construction company, doing work in Nebraska, Kansas and Texas. Following his service in the Korean Conflict, Dick returned home to support his parents. He attended McCook Junior College advancing in his administrative and accounting skills and playing football. He then became office manager for the Cambridge based Rural Electric Cooperative.

Dick married Donna Kelly on July 22, 1956. They moved to Brighton, CO and had 3 children. He became General Manager of Union Rural Electric Association, and held this position for 26 years. He continued his career serving in various executive leadership positions at other Rural Electric generation/transmission companies in both Iowa and Missouri. Dick retired in 1996 after a successful 42 year career.

Dick was active in many civic and religious organizations, including the First Presbyterian Church in Brighton, President of Rotary, named Outstanding Citizen for his many contributions to his community, served on the Brighton Hospital Board, along with many local, state and national boards of the Rural Electric Program.

In 1997, Dick retired and move to Sun City West, AZ. There he was involved in the Desert Palms Presbyterian Church as Elder, Property Chair, Men of the Church program, Stephen Ministry, and an avid attendee of church. He really loved his church, wherever he was attending.

He and Donna enjoyed many cruises, tours and visiting Colorado and other parts of the U.S. for a number of years. Dick is preceded in death by his parents, five brothers: Clarence, Chester, Dorrance, Dorsey, Eugene, and two sisters: Ferne Clapp and Gladys Arnold. He is survived by his wife, Donna Mae and two sisters Phyllis (Ivan) Snyder and Ruth (Darrell) Gregg, his three children Kelly (Jill) Arnold and children Alec and Elizabeth, Alan (Lori) Arnold and children Leah, Jay and Vance, Lynn (Craig) Sumey and children Derek and Brynna, and numerous nephews and nieces.

He will be missed and remembered always as a loving husband, father and grandfather. Memorial gifts may be given in Dicks memory to the Sun City West Desert Palms Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund or Hospice of the Valley.