Date of Birth:
Friday, August 31, 1945
Date of Death:
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Age:
80 years old

Mary Jean Arndt

Mary Jean Arndt, a beloved resident of Rochester, MN, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025, at the age of 80. Born on August 31, 1945, to Walter and Olga (Evenson) Clough. She graduated from John Marshall High School in 1964

On October 4, 1964, she married the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Arndt, and together they built a beautiful life filled with adventure and joy. Mary was a devoted wife and mother, proudly raising her children, Julie, Barb, and Richard Jr., all while fostering a home. In the sixties, she worked at Red Owl then was a stay-at-home mom. Once the kids were raised and on their own, she became a newspaper distribution manager.

Mary was known for her passion for baking and cooking. She found joy in simple pleasures, often chatting on the phone with loved ones, playing Solitaire, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Parcheesi, Sorry, Checkers, crossword puzzles, and assembling picture puzzles. Mary enjoyed watching the news and weather daily and liked reading newspapers, magazines, tv guides, Mayo Clinic health books, and Reader’s Digest. She also enjoyed watching her favorite soap operas and game shows, the television show Gun Smoke, and cheering for the Minnesota Twins. A true animal lover, as she welcomed many dogs and cats throughout her life.

Mary is survived by her devoted husband, Richard Arndt; her children, Julie (Seth McCaleb) Arndt, Barb (Cliff) Berquam, and Richard Jr. (Aune) Arndt; her cherished grandchildren, Christian Arndt, Anthony (Teagan) Bicknese-Bush, Jeremiah Arndt, Katie Berquam, and Olivia Arndt; and great-grandchildren Braddock and Lillian Bicknese-Bush. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Cheryl (Darwin) Friedrich.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Olga (Evenson) Clough; her infant brother; grandson Kyle Berquam; her brother-in-law Roger Arndt; and several aunts and uncles (from Winona, Wisconsin, and North Dakota).

Macken Funeral Home was honored to provide cremation services for the Arndt Family, however we are not involved in nor will be present for the Celebration of Life. Please direct all questions to a member of the family.