Arthur Bagaason was born May 3, 1921, to Arthur and Clara (Dyrdal) Bagaason in Albert Lea. He attended elementary and high school in Albert Lea, graduating in May 1938. Following high school graduation he worked for three years at the Wilson Meat Packing Company. In 1941, he enrolled in Pacific Lutheran College, Parkland, Wash. His college education was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in November 1942 and served in the Air Force, the Army Specialized Training Force and later became an infantryman serving with the 78th Infantry Division in Europe. Following the end of World War II, he was discharged and returned home in April 1946. On Aug. 21, 1946, he was united in marriage to Marian Throlson. From this union were born three sons and two daughters. Enrolling in St. Olaf College in September 1946, he graduated in June 1948. He and his wife, Marian, worked the summer months of 1948 in Glacier Park. He entered Luther Theological Seminary in the fall of 1948 and graduated in May 1951. He took special courses at New York Theological Seminary in New York in the Fall of 1951.

His ministry began at Lake Nokomis Lutheran in Minneapolis in January 1952, serving until April 1954; Bricelyn and Trinity Parish in Bricelyn until 1959; Trinity Lutheran of Owatonna until 1973, and Bethel Lutheran, Rochester, until retirement in 1986. Upon retirement, he and Marian built a home in Northfield.

Surviving him are his wife, Marian; three sons and their wives: Mark and Linda of Agoura Hills, Calif., Stephen and Young of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Paul and Marlys of Eden Prairie; two daughters: Sarah and husband David Kise of Minneapolis and Mary Kujanson of Rochester. Also surviving him are eight grandchildren: Erin, Luke, Lauren, Michael, Noah, Ben, Aaron and Samuel; a sister, Anna (Charles) Gathje of Rochester; sister-in-law, Arline Bagaason of Sioux Falls, S.D., plus a number of cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Preceding him in death in 1999 was a brother, the Rev. Carroll Bagaason and in 2002, a son-in-law, Jeffrey Kujanson; and an infant grandson, Matthew.

Arthur passed away with his family by his side on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 23, 2011, at the Northfield Care Center, at the age of 89.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday one hour prior to the service.

Memorials are preferred to Luther Seminary or St. Olaf College.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.