Arnold J. Barclay

Arnold J. Barclay, age 95 of Grafton, North Dakota, passed away Sunday, January 25, 2026 at the Unity Medical Center of Grafton.

Arnold was born September 20, 1930, in Harriston Township, the son of Percy and Amelia (Mondry) Barclay. He attended public school in Minto, ND. He joined the Navy when he was 19 and served on the USS Cabot. He worked in the South Dakota gold mines, worked for the telephone company until July 1952 and was then called in for service a second time and was discharged May 1954. Upon returning from the service, Arnold met Mary Ann Thompson at a dance at the Pavilion in Minto. They were married November 7, 1954, in the Grafton Lutheran Church.

Arnold worked for Grafton Floral and a few farmers before buying and running the Minto Café until March 1960. He then was hired by Ida McCann to help farm her land and gradually took over her farming operation. He took great pride in farming, was hardworking and known for his meticulous farming practices and attention to detail. He passed his work ethic to his children throughout their growing years by having them help with butchering the chickens, making hay, tending to the cattle, pulling weeds in the beans and helping with the harvest every fall. He was a member of Knox Presbyterian Church in Minto and passed on the importance of going to church to his family. He was a member of the Forest River American Legion.

In their later years Arnold and Mary Ann spent 27 winters in Mesa, Arizona, where they met many new friends from all over the country. They cherished the time away from the cold weather and spending time with their snowbird friends. They also enjoyed having their kids take a break from the cold to come visit them at Trail Riders RV Park.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Ann, his children, Deb (Ed) Karas, Petersburg, ND; Sandy (Craig) Houska, Grafton, ND; Don (Susan) Barclay, Grafton, ND; Diane (Roger) Anderson, Grafton, ND; Amy (Jeff) Sobolik, Reynolds, ND; and JoEllen (Darren) Rohrich, West Fargo, ND; grandchildren: Brian (Samantha) Karas, Kelli Wixo, Jean (Derek) Schmidt, Cory (Mikki) Barclay, Laura (Bailey) Hermanson, Garrett Barclay (Megan Kalka), Briana (Thomas) Martens, Steve (Andria) Miller, David (Sara) Miller, Jeff (Cassidy) Miller, Kayla Barclay, Rebecca (John) Crooks, Amanda (Koby) Sway, Sarah (Alek) Berg, Adam Barclay (Larissa Larson), Aaron (Cori) Anderson, Jason Anderson, Lucas Sobolik (Erika Tinkham), Ben (Samantha) Sobolik, Rachel (Jerrod) Truax, Katie (Stephen) Butz, Isaac Rohrich and Emma Rohrich and 39 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Gary; son-in-law, Rande Miller; sisters and brothers-in-law, Claryce (Frank) Rose, Darlyne (Bob) Murray and Sharon (Bob) Mlcoch.

The family of Arnold would like to extend a very special thank you to the entire staff at Grafton Unity Hospital for the exceptional care and kindness they showed our family.

Funeral services will be Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 2:30 P.M. at the Minto Community Center, Minto, ND. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the community center. The funeral will be livestreamed on the Tollefson Funeral Home website. Interment will be at the Minto City Cemetery, Minto, ND in the spring. Military Rites will be provided by the Forest River American Legion Post and the US Navy Funeral Honors.