Gary L. Arman, 80, of River Falls, Wis., formerly of Bismarck, N.D., passed away in Hudson, Wis., on Feb. 12, 2022. Gary was born on Jan. 14, 1942, in Bismarck to his parents, M.O. and Louise (French) Arman. Throughout his boyhood, he was active in Boy Scouts and was especially proud of receiving the Order of the Arrow. He attended parochial schools and graduated from St. Mary’s Central High School in 1960. Following graduation, he attended Bismarck Junior College, then studied at a language school in Lausanne, Switzerland, and toured Europe, including Iceland, an important part of his heritage. Celebrating his 21st birthday in Greece was also a highlight. Upon his return to Bismarck, he continued college and began working at Twin City Testing which influenced his decision to study at North Dakota State University where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1967. On Aug. 14, 1965, he married Inez Albers at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck.
In 1967 the couple moved to Topeka, Kan., where he worked for the Kansas Highway Commission. In 1974 they moved to Eau Claire, Wis., where he was branch manager of a testing and materials lab for Twin City Testing, and in 1978 he was transferred to Bismarck where he managed its labs throughout the state. During this time, he became more involved in providing engineering services for the construction of power and gasification plants. He next opened and managed labs in the state for Braun Intertec, and later opened his own firm, Arman Engineering Testing Ltd.
He was appointed to the North Dakota Board of Registration for Engineers and Land Surveyors by governors Ed Schafer and John Hoeven. In 2007 he was chosen by the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers to receive the Elwyn F. Chandler Award in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of the engineering profession. His leadership qualities were also realized by his involvement in other organizations including Toastmasters in Topeka and Capital City Lions in Bismarck, where he was named a Melvin Jones Fellow. When he made a commitment, he gave it his all.
Fishing, hunting, and endlessly building cabinets, closets, toy boxes, storage sheds and a sunroom for their home were projects he enjoyed.
Gary is survived by his wife, Inez, his daughter, Heather Arman Marin (Alfredo), Burnsville, Minn.; his son, Brian (Sarah) and his beloved grandchildren Cooper and Piper Arman, Hudson, Wis.; his sisters-in-law, Marlene Arman and Jan Arman and many special nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Miles, Warren and Darrell, and his sister-in-law, Sue Will Arman.
Mass of Christian Burial for Gary Arman will be at 11AM, Friday February 18th at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in River Falls, WI. Click here to watch funeral mass. Visitation was Friday February 25th from 11am to 12 (noon) at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck with the burial following at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Memorials in lieu of flowers are requested to the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers Education Foundation to support engineering students and future engineers. https://www.ndspe.org/education-foundation
Services entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services of Ellsworth.
