Daniel Leroy Arvidson

Daniel Leroy Arvidson, 64, of Brady, Montana, passed away on Friday, February 2, 2018 surrounded by family.

Daniel was born March 10, 1953 at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, MN, son of Warren and Opal (Sandberg) Arvidson. He grew up in Aitkin, MN and graduated from Aitkin High School in 1971. Daniel lived in Thor, MN for 15 years before moving to Montana in 1985. He learned cabinet making from his father and was clever in all areas of woodworking.  He also built beautiful rock fireplaces.

He lived in Brady, in the country, in adventure, in music, in art, in his family, in his cabinet shop, in constant pain and in his religion.

Kind heart, soft spoken, booming voice, broken body.

Skilled craftsman, good cook, famous cinnamon rolls, loved coffee; good and strong.

Loving husband to Donna. Father to Sarah Jo, Lisa, Emily, Bryan, Curtis and stepsons Chris and Casey Sedlak. Grandfather to Tyler, Hannah, Corey, Jenny, Eddie and Kiki. Great-grandfather to Masyn and Brooke.

Sawdust face, green thumb, 4-20, drank like a fish, smoked like a forest fire until age and wisdom slowed him down. Always lived the slow life taking the backway home, “Let’s get lost”, “Love is a gravel road”, “Speed Limit of Love is 35 mph.” Could walk up a mountain like a mountain goat. Rabbi Dan, Mr. Knowhow. My red-hot lover. He taught the ways of hunting, fishing, gardening, and so many topics in between.

More jokes and good stories than you could shake a stick at. Ole and Lena must be a distant relative. He spoke friendly to a baby mountain lion cub while fishing which was one of his favorite pastimes. Fun loving, helpful. Always there for my flat tires, stalled engine and locked in keys.

Master cabinet maker for 3 of my kitchens. 3 houses in our 22 years, one from the ground up.

Mighty hunter with 71 lifetime deer bagged unlike his grandfather that shot 75. Only hit seven deer driving and never got to go get his moose. The daily deer count has become years of books telling year end totals for them and moose, elk, bears, goats, sheep, but not antelope since there are too many to count.

Inventor and designer that built an elk cart so we could continue to hunt. Oh, and fish houses, an ice boat, canoes, weaving looms, greenhouses and that was just for us – he built so much more. His back scratchers were famous, 2 living with past MT governors. His design for a trophy given to volunteer winners from MT Commission on Community Service were given two years in a row. Reviews from some of his customers called him a Michelangelo of cabinet makers. His work was so beautiful and his caring showed in his fine details and how he installed convenient inventive and thoughtful extras to make life easier for others.

He was preceded in death by his father, Warren Herman Arvidson; mother, Opal Sandberg Arvidson and a brother, Jim who died in Vietnam.

He is survived by his wife Donna and Joan Arvidson – mother of his children all mentioned earlier. Also survived by his siblings, Joanne, Ron, Patricia, Chuck and Phillip.

He will be remembered by so many people, family and friends and for his many lifetime achievements. His body has been donated to medical science so that others may not live in the painful condition he endured for 42 years. A Memorial Service is planned for March 10 in Brady, MT at the Brady Methodist Church for 1 pm. 

Memorials may be sent to your local school which supplies classes in construction, hunting or fine arts. 

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