Arlin J Fetting

Arlin John Fetting, age 57, resident of Finley, ND passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. 

Arlin was born August 23, 1962 to Harold and Janice (Johnson) Fetting in Cooperstown North Dakota.  He graduated from Finley Sharon High School in 1980.  He attended Valley City State College before marrying Michelle Carlson and was blessed with his first son Paden. 

His extensive work history began at the age of 4 at Fetting’s Top Taste Bakery.  With his extensive bakery background, mostly delivering bread and baking cookies, he began working for Wally’s bakery in Grafton, then moving to Kenosha WI with the Pillsbury Company where he met the love of his life, Lori Pape in 1991.  He made a home with her and her 3 children Kevin, Jessica, and Erica in Beaver Dam WI and Sparta WI for many years before Lori and Arlin had their second son Carson.  The true American family, his, mine and ours.  In 2003 he moved to West Fargo, and then back to where it all started in Finley ND, 2007.

He traveled all over the country as a bakery tech, fuel service industry, janitorial and paper industry, and salesman for many different companies but was most proud of his co-ownership of GrainSight with his classmate Rick Bergenheier. 

His zest for life, positive force to be reckoned with and larger than life personality ensured that everyone he visited would remember him.  He loved his family first and foremost. Family time was best spent playing cards and board games. He loved his Vikings and always had faith they would make the super bowl. He loved his faithful dogs or animals in general.  Later in his life, he enjoyed his Harley Davidson. Motorcycles were a great commonality he enjoyed with his boys. How could we forget his movies! He has an extensive movie collection of over 2000 titles that he had collected over the years with all his travels. Arlin always held his friendships near and dear to his heart. He especially loved traveling back to see those friends in Wisconsin, even though it was difficult to make it back these last few years.

Although he battled many forms of cancer during the last fifteen years, his positive attitude is what kept him going all this time. He always found a positive aspect to focus on when going to the doctors. All his health care professionals were considered close friends, not just his doctor. He and Lori always appreciated the great care given to him and were in awe of the talent and technology they pulled out of their bags of tricks that extended his life as far as it could go, helping him treasure all of his family and friends, right to the end.

Surviving members of the family include his wife Lori of Finley, ND, children Kevin (Alyssa) of Winona, MN, Jessica (David) of Scarborough, ME, Erica (Mike) of Madison, WI, Paden of Fargo, ND and Carson of USAF Academy in Colorado, his parents Harold & Janice Fetting, 5 grandchildren Grayson, Adalynn, Kiara, Weston and Esmee, siblings Wayne (Laurie) Fetting, Susan Sayer and Charlene (Kevin)  Blumhart, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arlin was preceded in death by his grandparents Melvin & Lillian Fetting and Oscar & Minnie Johnson, uncles Robert Fetting and Roger Fetting.

 A celebration of life for Arlin will be held at the Finley-Sharon High School gymnasium at 11:00 am Saturday February 22, 2020 with visitation one hour prior to services.  Arrangements with the Cooperstown Funeral  Chapel. 

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