Arnold Tranby

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Arnold Tranby, 93, died Thursday, June 14, 2012, in his home in Moorhead, MN, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley, and his family. He was born May 28, 1919, on a farm near Winger, MN, to Carl Einar and Hannah (Salveson) Tranby.
Arnold received his education in Erskine (MN) Elementary and High School and Bemidji (MN) State Teacher's College. His pilot training took place at the Rising School of Aviation in Bemidji, the Jolly Flight School in Grand Forks, ND, and Randolph Field Army Air Force Gulf Training Center in San Antonio, TX. He received his Master's Degree in Education from UND, Grand Forks, in 1962.
During World War II, Arnold was a flight instructor at the Army Air Force Basic Glider School in Vinita, OK, and Grider Field, Pine Bluff, AR. After the war, he was a co-pilot for American Airlines, out of Chicago, IL. He returned to Erskine in 1947, worked as a draftsman for Berger Lumber Company, and finished his college education at Bemidji. He taught music and industrial arts at McIntosh, MN, and Erskine High Schools, and became the principal in Erskine in 1962.
He married Pearl Mandelin in 1942 and they were blessed with five children. Pearl died in 1960. On October 12, 1963, he married Melvina Borslien. Two daughters were born to that union. The family moved to Moorhead in 1966, when he began working in public relations for Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo, ND. He wore many hats during his years there and retired in 1981. He hosted many tours to the Holy Land, Norway, Germany and Greece for WTTI and Lutheran Brotherhood. They built a home on Lake Fifteen, near Rollag, MN, and lived there for ten years before moving back to Moorhead in 1999.
He found joy in music and directing; singing in church choirs; the "4 Sour Notes" Quartet; and just-for-fun duets with his friend, Parker Kvebak. At age 83, he started participating in "Vira Marimba" at Concordia College. His friend, Jens Ree, and he spent 55 consecutive years together on opening day of fishing, in good weather and bad. Before his extended illness, he was an active member at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church, Moorhead Kiwanis, Rollag Steam Threshers, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army. He had a print shop in the basement where he printed the yearly Tranby Times Christmas newspaper for many years.
Arnold is survived by his wife, Melvina, Moorhead; seven children, Thomas (Mary) Tranby, Faribault, MN, Karen (Roger) Vraa, Alexandria, MN, Susan McPherson, Shakopee, MN, Kathryn (Dan) Zubich, Onalaska, WI, David (Sharon) Tranby, Moorhead, Carolie (Shawn)
Memorials preferred to Oak Grove Lutheran School, Pontoppidan Church Ministries, Hospice of the Red River Valley, and Alzheimer's Research.
Visitation: Thursday, 5 PM to 7 PM, with prayer service at 7, Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.
Funeral: Friday, June 22, 2012, at 11 AM in Pontoppidan Lutheran Church, 309 4th Street North, Fargo.

Graveside service: Friday, 3 PM, Fairveiw Cemetery, Erskine, MN. Following the burial, all are invited to the Ness Café dining room for dessert and coffee.