Arthur Varty

Arthur Forrest Varty was born in the family home in Douglas, ND on June 04, 1936, and passed away at home on February 8, 2020, surrounded by his family. Art spent his last years in Bismarck, ND, close to his family.

A celebration of his life will be held on February 22, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., at Shepard of the Valley Church, 801 E. Denver Ave, Bismarck, ND. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery on Monday, February 24, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., with full military honors.

Art was the fourth child born to Forrest and Florence (Wolcott) Varty. He spent a majority of his childhood trapping and hunting small game animals around the town of Douglas. He graduated from Douglas High School.

Art enlisted in the United States Army on October 18, 1955. He proudly served his country and was stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1961. Art met Diana Shaw of Velva, ND, and the two were married. Upon leaving the military, he started his career as a police officer and later the sheriff of Nelson County and attended the National FBI Academy. Art also bartended for seven years and was a part-time police officer in Emerado. He was a master with carpentry, tiling, woodworking and cement. With his love of hunting and working outdoors, he had been a Hunter’s Education director. Art will be remembered for the wonderful stories that he enjoyed sharing with each person he came across.

He is survived by his wife Diana (Shaw) Varty; sisters Ruth (Arne) Tollefson, Maddock, ND, Bonnie (Fred) Martens, Great Falls, MT, and Betty (Richard) Schlichting, Garrison, ND, daughters LaRae (Ted) Kuusisto, Bismarck, Nancy (Tim) Krause, Bowdon; sons Steve (Debbie) Varty, San Marcos, TX, Tom (Tammy) Varty, Williston, William (Beth) Varty, Tolna, grandchildren Brian (Michelle) Varty, Doug Varty, Brandy Varty, Haley Krueger, Katie Krueger, Charlie Jo (Chris) Varty, Kayla Baker, Sara Krause, Kitanna Krause, Victoria Varty, Lindsay (Thomas) Varty, Forrest (Annastasia) Varty, Jason Kuusisto, Jeremiah Kuusisto; great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and his special friends, Kris Halverson, Gary Rankin, Dr. Boyd Hagen, and K. Thor Thompson.

Art was preceded in death by his parents Forrest and Florence (Wolcott) Varty; brothers Alfred ‘Bud’ Varty, Robert ‘Bob’ Varty, and David Varty; sisters Lois Schlichting, Dorothy Keller, and Carol Klain.