Arlie A. Fachner

Arlin August "Arlie" Fachner was born to Matthias and Bertha Fachner on June 19, 1925, 20 miles north of Wolf Point. He was the youngest of eight children, and was the last survivor. He was promoted to heaven on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, while being ably cared for at Community Medical Center.

He left school early to help on the farm. During his schooling, he was proud to play the French horn with the high school band.

He and two of his brothers, Ernest and Julius, drove one day to a small, family coal mine to bring some coal home for the stoves. While they were doing so, the mine collapsed. Julius was instantly killed. However, Arlie, at age 14, dug Ernest out of the heap with his bare hands. Ernest survived and was Arlie's closest brother and long-time farming partner.

He joined the service during World War II, but the war ended before he was deployed overseas.

Arlie married Marietta Olga Albert on Dec. 21, 1947. This was the smartest decision he made in his long life. He loved to joke that he chose the longest night of the year to be married. They had two children, Penny Sue (Fachner) Rodli and Wesley Arlin Fachner.

Farming was his passion. He told the story of how when he and his brother, Ernest, who were farming partners until the mid-1980s, were starting their partnership, they flipped a coin, and he lost. This meant he would find a job outside of farming in case of crop failures to pay the bills (memories of the Great Depression). He put much sweat into developing the land and making it farmable. In fact, a large part of this development included rock picking. He enjoyed the slave labor of his son and son-in-law to pick those rocks but he worked as hard as they did. This inspired his CB handle of "Montana Rockpicker." The sandy fields in North Wolf Point were often eroded by the wind. He decided to plow the fields diagonally to stop the erosion. Flying over the area, it was the only field that stood out from all the others. He also farmed the sides of the hills, which other farmers left as prairie. When the ground was not frozen, he would leave the Montana Highway Department at 5 p.m., change his clothes, and go to work on the farm until dark. One of the most difficult decisions Arlie ever made was the sale of his farmland in 1984. Even after he sold the farm, he maintained a miniature version of a farm at their home in Missoula. He had perfectly straight rows of vegetables. He had his John Deere riding mower to trim the grass.

He worked at the Montana Highway Department for 30 years. When he retired and moved to Missoula, his old boss, who had been transferred to Missoula, asked him to come back and work. Always a trooper, he agreed, and worked for another season.

He loved to hunt and fish. He often talked of Dutch Fleming, his boss at the Highway. They both fished. Each had trained English setters for hunting pheasants and grouse. They had many good times together. Arlie also liked to hunt deer. He shot many deer over the years, and when he was 78, he shot his third and final elk.

Although he never kept up his French horn playing, he did play the harmonica. Over the years, he played many times at church in Wolf Point and Missoula. Even at age 89, Arlie played hymns while Wesley accompanied him on the piano.

He accepted the Lord as his savior later in life and followed Jesus's example of being baptized in water. He kept that commitment until his death. Thus, the family is confident of the peace his soul now enjoys and looks forward to reuniting in heaven.

His survivors include his wife of 67 years, Marietta (Albert) Fachner; his daughter Penny and her husband David Rodli; his son Wesley and his wife Cindy Fachner. Grandchildren include, Brett (Gabriela) Rodli, Scott (Eriko) Rodli, Mark (Sunny) Rodli, Amy Rodli and Ethan Fachner. Great grandchildren include, Daniela Rodli, Juliana Rodli and Ella Rodli and Brett and Gabie's foster son, Eathan.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 31, at 2 p.m. at Christian Life Center, 3801 S. Russell St., Missoula, with a reception following. Arrangements have been under the care of Garden City Funeral Home.
Read Arlie Fachner's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.