Arthur James Dobias, 84, of Angus, Minnesota, died late Tuesday evening, May 25, 2010, in the North Valley Health Center in Warren, Minnesota.

Art was born in Crookston, Minnesota on July 23, 1925, one of eight children of the union of Albert and Barbara (Ourada) Dobias. He grew up on the family's farm in Brandt Township of Polk County, near Angus, and attended country school. On February 11, 1944, Art enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was stationed at Marchfield Air Force Base in California, then sent overseas to Debach, England, where he served with the Allied Forces in the European Theater of Operations during WWII. As a member of the 493rd Bomb Group, 862nd Squadron, Art was a waist gunner, and later a ball-turret gunner, aboard a B-17 Flying Fortess, making many bombing runs over the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. In recognition of his service to his country the Army Air Corps awarded him the EAME Theater Ribbon, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the American Theater Ribbon, and the Victory Medal WWII. When the war ended he and his fellow crewmen took part in food drops to the starving people of Holland. Following his honorable discharge with the rank of S/Sgt on January 15, 1946, Art returned to the farm at Angus. A month later, in February, he was united in marriage to Sarah Bushamie at Fisher, Minnesota. Together, Art and Sarah raised two children-Veronica "Ronni" and Bruce. The family made their home on the farm at Angus while Art was employed by the Sioux Line Railroad at Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He later farmed on the family farm for several years. In 1961 Art enrolled in the Aviation Program at the newly formed Thief River Falls Technical College. As a member of the very first graduating class he majored in aircraft mechanics and also received his Aircraft Inspector (AI) rating. During these years Art purchased and rebuilt his own antique airplane, actually doing quite a bit of the work on his "little red plane" right inside his house. While he and the family continued to make their home on the farm, Art began working at airports in Crookston, Grand Forks, Grafton, Hallock, and Thief River Falls. He commuted to the various airports he worked at in his "little red plane," and the sight of him flying overhead became so well recognized that people living along his flight path would watch and wave as he flew by. On November 2, 1975 Art, Sarah, and Ronni were very saddened when Bruce was killed in a traffic accident in California, while stationed there with the U.S. Air Force. Art retired from his life's work as a regional master mechanic in 1998. In semi-retirement he ferried planes for other pilots throughout a large multi-state area. As a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association he and Sarah took part in many social functions and fly-in breakfasts. At an FAA banquet held in Fargo, North Dakota in March of 2001, Art received the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award honoring his many years spent in the aviation business. Art and Sarah enjoyed traveling, especially throughout the western United States and Alaska, and he really enjoyed visiting 'ghost towns.' He held memberships in the 8th Air Force Historical Society, the Warren American Legion, and the East Grand Forks VFW. Art was a dearly loved husband and father who will be missed beyond measure, and a good friend to many.

Left to mourn his passing is his beloved wife, Sarah; his daughter, Veronica Leigh "Ronni" Nordby and her husband, Doyle, of White Earth Lake, near Waubun, MN; a sister, Mary Ann (Inar) Mikkelson of Thief River Falls, MN; a sister-in-law, Dee Dobias of Pequot Lakes, MN; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. In addition to his son, Bruce, Art is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Barbara; three brothers, Frank, Rudolph, and Philip; and three sisters, Katherine Dedina, Victoria Means, and Lillian Cork. May God bless the memory of Arthur James Dobias.

A Celebration of the Life of Arthur Dobias will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, June 1, 2010, in the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, in Crookston, with the Rev. Lee Yarger, officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 12 Noon until the time of the service. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Crookston with Military Honors provided by the Minnesota National Guard Honors Unit from Moorhead, Minnesota.

Arthur James Dobias, 84, of Angus, Minnesota, died late Tuesday evening, May 25, 2010, in the North Valley Health Center in Warren, Minnesota.

Art was born in Crookston, Minnesota on July 23, 1925, one of eight children of the union of Albert and Barbara (Ourada) Dobias. He grew up on the family's farm in Brandt Township of Polk County, near Angus, and attended country school. On February 11, 1944, Art enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was stationed at Marchfield Air Force Base in California, then sent overseas to Debach, England, where he served with the Allied Forces in the European Theater of Operations during WWII. As a member of the 493rd Bomb Group, 862nd Squadron, Art was a waist gunner, and later a ball-turret gunner, aboard a B-17 Flying Fortess, making many bombing runs over the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. In recognition of his service to his country the Army Air Corps awarded him the EAME Theater Ribbon, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the American Theater Ribbon, and the Victory Medal WWII. When the war ended he and his fellow crewmen took part in food drops to the starving people of Holland. Following his honorable discharge with the rank of S/Sgt on January 15, 1946, Art returned to the farm at Angus. A month later, in February, he was united in marriage to Sarah Bushamie at Fisher, Minnesota. Together, Art and Sarah raised two children-Veronica "Ronni" and Bruce. The family made their home on the farm at Angus while Art was employed by the Sioux Line Railroad at Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He later farmed on the family farm for several years. In 1961 Art enrolled in the Aviation Program at the newly formed Thief River Falls Technical College. As a member of the very first graduating class he majored in aircraft mechanics and also received his Aircraft Inspector (AI) rating. During these years Art purchased and rebuilt his own antique airplane, actually doing quite a bit of the work on his "little red plane" right inside his house. While he and the family continued to make their home on the farm, Art began working at airports in Crookston, Grand Forks, Grafton, Hallock, and Thief River Falls. He commuted to the various airports he worked at in his "little red plane," and the sight of him flying overhead became so well recognized that people living along his flight path would watch and wave as he flew by. On November 2, 1975 Art, Sarah, and Ronni were very saddened when Bruce was killed in a traffic accident in California, while stationed there with the U.S. Air Force. Art retired from his life's work as a regional master mechanic in 1998. In semi-retirement he ferried planes for other pilots throughout a large multi-state area. As a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association he and Sarah took part in many social functions and fly-in breakfasts. At an FAA banquet held in Fargo, North Dakota in March of 2001, Art received the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award honoring his many years spent in the aviation business. Art and Sarah enjoyed traveling, especially throughout the western United States and Alaska, and he really enjoyed visiting 'ghost towns.' He held memberships in the 8th Air Force Historical Society, the Warren American Legion, and the East Grand Forks VFW. Art was a dearly loved husband and father who will be missed beyond measure, and a good friend to many.

Left to mourn his passing is his beloved wife, Sarah; his daughter, Veronica Leigh "Ronni" Nordby and her husband, Doyle, of White Earth Lake, near Waubun, MN; a sister, Mary Ann (Inar) Mikkelson of Thief River Falls, MN; a sister-in-law, Dee Dobias of Pequot Lakes, MN; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. In addition to his son, Bruce, Art is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Barbara; three brothers, Frank, Rudolph, and Philip; and three sisters, Katherine Dedina, Victoria Means, and Lillian Cork. May God bless the memory of Arthur James Dobias.

A Celebration of the Life of Arthur Dobias will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, June 1, 2010, in the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, in Crookston, with the Rev. Lee Yarger, officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 12 Noon until the time of the service. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Crookston with Military Honors provided by the Minnesota National Guard Honors Unit from Moorhead, Minnesota.