Longtime Sterling resident Arthur A. Rindahl, 87, died Sept. 9, 2005, at Nicholson's Assisted Living Home in Kenai.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Sterling Senior Center, Mile 82 Sterling Highway, in Sterling. Tim Smith of Sterling Masonic Lodge 22 will officiate. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10046 and American Legion Post 20 will perform military honors. A gathering will follow at the senior center. His ashes will be buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.

Mr. Rindahl was born Sept. 20, 1917, in Alexander, N.D., where he was raised. He entered the U.S. Army on March 10, 1942, and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater during World War II until he received his honorable discharge Jan. 21, 1946.

In 1970, Mr. Rindahl moved to Eagle River, where he built his first log home. On Dec. 31, 1978, he married Eleanor (Osborn) Rindahl, and they held an open house at his home in Eagle River with more than 350 people in attendance.

Mr. Rindahl was a machinist for the U.S. government and had retired in 1980, when he and his wife moved to the Kenai Keys, where he had been building their home every weekend for the prior three years.

Mr. Rindahl was 33rd degree Mason and held all chairs up to Grandmaster with Masonic Lodge 11. "He was a very busy man and had donated many hours with the VFW Post 10046 in Soldotna as well as with the Senior Cootie Organization," his family wrote.

In 1997, Mr. Rindahl was elected Head Jester for the state of Alaska of the Royal Order of the Jesters.

He was preceded in death by six brothers and one sister.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Rindahl of Sterling; and grandson, Harold Miller of Anchorage.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kenai Masonic Lodge 11, 36081 Kenai Spur Highway, Soldotna, AK 99669.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.

Source: Anchorage Daily News, September 11, 2005.