Obituary of Arthur Arstall
Arthur (Art) Arstall was born in Rabbit Lake, SK on January 17, 1931. He was the 7th of the nine children of Harry and Ettie Arstall. Art went to Misterton School, which was a one room schoolhouse that went to Grade 8. However, Art quit in Gr. 7 right before final exams to go farming for his dad. After this he went and worked for various farmers on their threshing crews. He later decided to go to Saskatoon and moved in with his older sister Alice and her family. There he started to work at various places doing construction, along with working at Government Elevators and the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Around this time, he met Irene Moore through her best friend Carol who was Art’s niece. They started dating when was 15 and dated for 5 years until Art got enough courage to ask Irene to marry him. They had to have her dad sign for them on their wedding day, on July 25, 1964, because the legal age was 21 at the time. In preparing for his marriage, Art saved his money to purchase 2 quarters of land across from his mom, while Irene saved up the money to buy the furniture they needed for their home. When they arrived on the property there was an old shack that they lived in until Art built them a house from the logs he sawed off the property. A year later they welcomed a son, Les, to the family. They loved their son so much they decided to have another son. Tim, 10 months later. Art taught the boys at an early age to drive the tractors and trucks, to haul and stack bails as well as care for the animals. One day Aline Bellamy, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, came by and introduced Art and Irene to the Bible. They began studying with Aline & her husband Lyle and enjoyed what they were learning and started a new chapter in their life. Ten years after Tim was born, they welcomed their only daughter, Linda, into the mix, the redhead, blue-eyed girl which Art had prayed for. And three years later to their surprise they welcomed a third son, Curtis, to complete the family. For 30 years Art enjoyed farming his land near Mullingar until his retirement in 1997. At this time, they decided to move closer to Spiritwood. They bought 9 acres of land south of Spiritwood to settle, and they even brought along horses, dogs, and a few cats. Even though retired, Art was a very active man who added a fence line to the property. He and Irene made their property a little piece of paradise with lots of fruit trees and gardens. They often shared their garden harvest with everyone. As the years passed Art’s family grew bigger with love by gaining a son-in-law and daughters-in-law. He loved to spend time getting to know each one of them, as each one held a special spot in his heart. Even though “I love you “didn’t often come you knew when they did, he meant it. In time he received 7 beautiful grandchildren that brought him lots of joy and love, especially when he could spoil them and then return them. In 2018, with the acreage becoming difficult to care for, they moved into the senior’s duplex in Spiritwood. In 2020, Irene’s health became difficult for Art to care for on his own, so they made a final move to Shellbrook to live with their daughter Linda and her family.
Farming wasn’t always all work and no fun. Art enjoyed taking breaks from the farm life by snowmobiling with his kids or taking them to many different lakes to fish, camp or day trips and even buying a boat. At times adventuring to other provinces, sightseeing, or just taking a ride somewhere. Art also loved to sing and write songs. He even had one of his songs copyrighted. He enjoyed singing to his kids and really everywhere he went; even on the farm equipment and travelling in the car. Even in the last few years when singing was hard to do, he tapped his feet to the music instead. He enjoyed playing softball and was an excellent runner, even chasing a wolf in the field for something to do. Art was a hospitable man. If you came over to his home, you were always invited for food whether it be lunch or supper and there was always a pot of coffee on. Neighbors al around would come over to have an eventful game of Kaiser, if you were on Art’s team you were sure to win. Art enjoyed playing board games, especially Scrabble and cards as well. As he got older, he would often play solitaire to pass the time. While most of the cooking was done by Irene, his children and grandchildren always looked forward to his famous biscuits during family meals. They were never the same each time; sometimes he would add cheese, other times honey. But there were always two or three for everyone as one was never enough.
While family and friends held a special place in Art’s life, what was most important to him was his strong faith and love for his heavenly Father, Jehovah. He symbolized his dedication to God by water baptism, on October 25, 1998, along with two of his sons. Art shared his faith in a better future soon to come with ones he talked to right up until his passing. He trusted that in Jehovah’s due time he would be resurrected along with others who passed away (Acts 24:15). He found great comfort in the works found at Rev. 21:4 that God “will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more, neither mourning nor out cry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
Art is survived by : His loving wife of 59 years, Irene; son Les and his wife Michelle and their daughters Jasmine and Emma; son Tim and his wife Gwen and their son timothy; daughter Linda and her husband Jason and their children Brett and Kiera; son Curtis and his daughter Alexandria and sone Javen and their mother Heather; his older sister Alice and younger brother John; his sisters- in -law Kathy, Thelma and Luella along with numerous nieces nephews and other relatives.
Art was predeceased by his parents Harry and Ettie Arstall; his siblings: infant Harry, May, Henry, Richard, Charlie, and Ann: Parents Gilbert and Annie Moore; siblings in law Roy, Wally, Mary, Ivy, Melvin, Joe and David.
Arthur Arstall, late of Shellbrook, SK, passed away on Monday, November 13, 2023, at Parkland Integrated Health Center in Shellbrook, SK. Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses 4350 2nd Ave West Prince Albert SK. The funeral will be shared with Zoom. The Zoom ID is 87966334301 .A complete obituary will be updated when available. Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lynn Anderson Funeral Director, Shellbrook, SK 306-747-2828.
