Pastor Arlington "Bud" Mitskog

Pastor Arlington T. Mitskog “Bud” was born August 16th, 1927 , on a farm in Garborg township, rural Wyndmere, North Dakota, to Ole and Randina (Pederson) Mitskog.

He grew up in the Wyndmere area and attended school there. After having farmed for a few years, he entered the Army December 7th, 1950. He had Basic Training at Fort Riley, Kansas. His father also had Basic Training at the same location in World War I. After Basic Training, Arlington served as a Forward Observer in the Korean War. He was discharged from the Army September 6th, 1952.

He married the love of his life, Carol Odegaard September 20th, 1952. They farmed for a year and then Bud, Carol and three week old son Mark, moved to Decorah, Iowa, where he attended Luther College for two years. They then moved to Moorhead, Mn, where he attended Concordia College and graduated in 1959. They moved to St. Paul, Mn, where he attended Luther Theological Seminary and graduated in 1962. Arlington was also a member of both the Concordia and Luther College Choirs.

He was ordained into the ministry of the American Lutheran Church (ELCA) at Gol-Aal Lutheran Church, rural Wyndmere, June 24th, 1962, by Reverend Earl J. Lund. Rev. Lund also married Bud and Carol in the same church, ten years earlier.

Arlington and Carol served parishes in Cogswell, Sharon, Harvey and Buxton, North Dakota. They retired in 1992, and have been living in Fargo/Moorhead most of the time since then.
In retirement, they served several parishes on an interim basis in the Eastern North Dakota Synod, Northwestern Minnesota Synod, and South Dakota Synod.

Bud was passionate about his faith, family, and friends. He held a very special place in his heart for his three grandchildren, Matthew, Jesse and Hannah and would frequently reminisce about the time spent with them at Bert’s Cabins in Itasca State Park. Jesse and Hannah took them both on a trip back there this past summer to see all the familiar places.
Bud died 1/30/16 at Sanford Hospital.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, Moorhead, Mn; his daughters, Marne Mitskog, West Fargo, ND; and Karen (Warren) Skalicky, Fargo, ND; three grandchildren, Jesse Skalicky, Fargo, ND; and Matthew and Hannah Mitskog, Colfax, ND.

He was preceded in death by his son, Mark; his sister, Leone Moos; and his parents.

2 Timothy 4:6-7 For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.