Dale Arnett passed away December 21, 2025, at Homestead Assisted Living in Wamego, KS,. He was 83 years old.
Dale Arnett was born July 4, 1942, to Ruth Ferris and Milo Dale Arntt from Big Bear, California. Harold joined the Marines at 18 years of age and served for ten years, including service in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart from the Battle of Khe Sahn. Upon returning to the United States, Dale, fell in love with the Company clerk who quickly became his wife.
Dale and Brenda Pattison were married November 1, 1970, then Dale left the Marine Corps to join the Army. They welcomed a son, Richard Milo, in 1970 and a daughter, Mary Ruth in 1971. Their early years were spent traveling the world in the Army with assignments in Germany, Oklahoma and Texas.
Dale and Brenda retired from the military in 1981, and he found odd jobs in construction that led him across the Western United States living in Colorado and Arizona before moving to Washington State to be closer to their daughter and son-in-law son who were on active duty with the Army, stationed at Fort Lewis, and their son, enlisted in the Navy and assigned to Naval Station Bremerton.
Dale and Brenda moved to Kansas when Mary and Brian transferred to Fort Riley and resided in Manhattan and St. George before Brenda passed away in December of 2013. Dale found love again with a long-time acquaintance, Cindy, who later became his wife. They were married in June of 2017. They moved to Manhattan again and later moved to the Homestead Assisted Living facility in Wamego, KS, in April of 2025.Dale was a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and loved fishing with his grandchildren. He will be remembered for his vivid stories, good humor, and love of family.
Dale's wife Brenda, parents Ruth and Milo, and Sister Edith (Eddie) preceded him in death. Surviving him are his loving wife of almost 9 years, Cindy and his children, Richard Milo Arnett of Port Angeles, WA, Mary Ruth Byington (Arnett) of Manhattan, KS, and his grandchildren, Sierra Varboncoeur (Byington), Milo Arnett, great-grandchild, Genevieve Varboncoeur and Sister Leverne (Vonnie) Hardy. He will also be missed by his cat, Mittens.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00p.m. Monday December 29, 2025 at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at Fort Riley, 5181 Wildcat Creek Road, Manhattan, Kansas 66503. Friends are invited to meet at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan at 12:15p.m. to form a procession to the cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions in memory of Dale be made to the Wounded Warriors Project. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.