Arthur Art Noreen, 82, died Thursday, May 24, 2007 at Oakland Park Communities in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at Oak Ridge Lutheran Church rural Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Rena Peterson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post 117 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793 of Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Monday, May 28, 2007 with a 7:00 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral at church.

Arthur Sanford Noreen was born December 5, 1924 in Vega Township, Marshall County, MN the son of Carl and Alice (Bjorndal) Noreen. He was baptized and confirmed at Kongsvinger Lutheran Church rural Oslo, MN. He attended country school through the 8th grade and later went to welding school in Fargo, ND.

On March 10, 1943 Arthur entered into service with the United States Army during World War II and served with Company D, 157th Infantry, and 45th Division. He was assigned to a Heavy Weapons Company and was a gunner and ammunition carrier on heavy 30 caliber machine guns. He caught up with the 45th Division in Northern Africa and then was shipped to Italy on a British boat. He spent 90 days fighting the Germans on the Anzio Beachhead where he was wounded twice. In 1944, Noreen, a machine gunner was sent to fight in the invasion of southern France. Near Grenoble, France, Noreen was wounded and spent a year in the hospital. He was injured a total of nine times during the war. It was fun for what was entertaining, Noreen said, but hell to go through the fighting and the rigmarole. Art was decorated and cited with the Bronze Star, Purple Heart with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, and Marksman Badge with Machine Gun Bar, Pistol Bar, Rifle Bar and Mortar Bar. Art was Honorably Discharged on August 20, 1945 from McCaw General Hospital in Walla Walla, Washington.

On July 27, 1945 he was married to Norma Jean Slater in Lewiston, Idaho. To this union a son, Terry Gene Noreen was born. They moved to Grand Forks, ND.

On June 6, 1948 he was married to Shirley Elizabeth Krenelka in East Grand Forks, MN. To this union a daughter, Sherida Lee Noreen and a son, Steven Sanford Noreen was born. They lived in several places in Minnesota, California, Oregon, and eventually settled in Cut Bank, MT.

In 1983 a son, Matthew Lee Christian was born to Art Noreen and Sandra Christian.

Art was a truck driver, ranch hand and a certified welder, among many different jobs through his life. He had the ability to excel at many different traits. He enjoyed horses and was a cowboy polo player and also liked driving around looking at the scenery. He was president of the Saddle Club in Cut Bank was a Glacier County Special Deputy. Art was a unique and very independent man.

Survivors include 4 children, Terry (Cindy) Noreen of Rickreall, OR, Sherida Noreen of Sarasota, FL, Steven (Fran) Noreen of Cut Bank, MT and Matthew Christian of Emporia, KS; 14 grandchildren, Holly, Tina, Terry, Jr., Jenice, Erin, Jenny, Ryan, Scott, Dustin, Tristina, Stacy, Alissa, Sandy, and Charlene; 24 great grandchildren; brother, Kenneth (Tressie) Noreen of St. Hilaire, MN; sisters-in-law, Joanne Noreen of McAllen, TX, Dee Noreen and Janice Noreen both of Thief River Falls, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Luella and Eleanor; brothers, Chester, Kelly, Petie, and Lloyd.