Donald Gregory Arden, 67, of Thief River Falls, MN, formerly of Wilmington, DE and southern California, passed peacefully on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at his home in Thief River Falls.
A remembrance of Don’s life will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 12 to 2 PM at 1011 Tindolph Ave. S., Thief River Falls, MN hosted by his family and home.
Donald Gregory Arden was born on August 6, 1957 in Hollywood, California. He is the son of Anna Lucille (Olson) Arden and John Joseph Arden. Don moved with his family to San Diego, CA when he was 2, to Wilmington, DE when he was 6, back to California (Ventura and Anaheim) when he was 8 and then back to Wilmington, DE when he was 9. Don lived in Wilmington until 2015, when he moved to Thief River Falls.
Don graduated from St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington in 1975. He was at the top of his class, especially excelling in science, math and history. He enjoyed several different nicknames while in high school, among them “the walking dictionary” and “space man”. Don could reportedly tell anyone who asked him the meaning of anything. His interest in outer space was so strong that he spent a lot of free time reading books and magazines on the subject, watching documentaries on T.V. and eating up any news about new discoveries that he could get his hands on. When Don was a junior, he gave regular talks to the senior Earth Science class, at the teacher’s request, where he shared his knowledge of new discoveries and current events.
Don continued his interest in science and history throughout his life, always keeping up to date with the latest developments. He built on his love of history and developed it into a passion for world news and events (history in the making) and politics. Don was also gifted with a didactic and later photographic memory.
Don’s neurodiverse mind presented many challenges for him throughout his life. He met these challenges courageously and accepted the help of many to navigate them. In Thief River Falls Don lived at Edgewood home (Prairie Community Services) where he thrived with caring staff and considerate roommates.
Since moving to Thief River Falls, Don worked at the DAC (Development Abilities Cooperation). He worked conscientiously there, assembling kits for electronics from several industries in the area. This was very satisfying to him. He also enjoyed many other activities at the DAC and felt comfortable there in community with staff and colleagues.
Don loved sports. His all time favorite was baseball, but he also followed football and basketball. Don’s analytical skills enabled him to read football stats and accurately predict the winners of NFL games in weekly “NFL Pick’em” contests at home. He also followed biographies and stats of individual players, teams, specific games and seasons. Give him the name of a player (baseball, football, basketball) and he could tell you anything that you wanted to know about them.
Don never asked for much. He was a quiet, dignified man, who lived a simply life, taking pleasure in small things.
Don is survived by his siblings: Dulcy (Amgad Fanous) Arden, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Debbie Arden, Quartz Hill, CA; Rex Arden, Wilmington, DE; Alan Arden, Thief RiverFalls, MN. Nephew: Ryan Greif. Nieces: Lizzie Greif; Suzy Fanous; Sarah Fanous.
Don is preceded in death by: his parents, Anna Lucille (Olson) Arden and John Arden.
Condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
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