Jan 12, 2021
LUVERNE — LENNIS “RED” ARNDT, age 72, of Luverne, died Thursday, January 7, 2021, at Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD. He was born May 1, 1948, in Springfield, MN to Edwin and Edna (Beilke) Arndt. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1966. He also attended Worthington Junior College.
In 1983, he married Lisa Marie Turbes. They raised a family together and were married for 26 years, remaining each other’s closest friend for the remainder of his life. Red started working for Springfield Public Utilities in 1967 as a power lineman and later line foreman. He was on the Springfield Fire Department during which time he served as the fire chief for three years. He served on Springfield’s Planning & Zoning Commission for five years and on the Board of Education at Springfield Public Schools for three years. He moved to Fairfax, MN where he was the city manager from 1986 to 1989. He managed the electric, water, and wastewater utilities along with other city services and facilities. Red moved to Luverne, MN in 1989 to be the city’s utility superintendent. In 1990, Red was instrumental in the design and construction of the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, serving in many vital capacities including board chairman from 2006 until his death.