Arnold E. McPherson, 95, Sturgis, SD, died at his residence on Saturday, July 22, 2006.

Arnold was born on July 21, 1911, in rural Meade Co. to Eugene H. and Ida (Thiers) McPherson. He was the third of 8 children. He attended school in a one-room rural school thru 8th grade, then, with some of his brothers, attended Aggie School in Brookings, graduating in 1934.

His family ranched 28 miles east of Sturgis on land homesteaded by his grandfather, father, and uncles. He returned to the ranch after Aggie School. But, "Horses and I didn't get along", he later explained, so he moved to Sturgis in 1939 and purchased an appliance business from Mr. Snyder. He used the rear of Snyder's Jewelry, later Neugebauers, now 54 Printing. On January 18, 1941, he and Maxine Phillips, of nearby Hereford, were married in the Presbyterian Church Manse by the Rev. C.D. Erskine.

When WWII began, he was rejected for physical reasons. There were very few appliances available for sale, so he became assistant station agent at the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad station in Sturgis, working for Harry Engle. It was his job to receive the incoming mail, send the outgoing mail, and see that the freight was unloaded.

After the war, when appliances became available again, he and Maxine built a building on Junction Ave, across from the Post Office, and opened McPherson Supply & Appliance. It included bottled gas. They sold the first bottled-gas ranges in Meade County. Appliances, large and small, were always in demand. They sold lots of radios, particularly to men stationed at Ft. Meade. Arnold sold the first air conditioner, the "swamp cooler" type, in Sturgis. It went to one of the local restaurants. Soon, most people knew the location of the coolest place to eat lunch. Soon after that, the remaining 2 or 3 restaurants in town placed similar orders. On another occasion, they took delivery of an entire railcar load of freezers, all of which sold rapidly.

In 1957, they sold the appliance business, retaining only the propane business, for which they purchased a plot of ground outside of the southern city limit of Sturgis, built an office building, and installed a bulk storage tank. The name was McPherson Propane. Arnold and Maxine occasionally purchased a neighboring independent propane company, adding to their growing business. In the 60's Arnold joined the Board of Directors of the SD Propane Gas Association, and served a number of terms. He was widely known as "Mac", rather than "Arnold".

In the early 1950's they won the contract to supply propane for wintertime-heat during construction of Pactola Dam. Twice a week Arnold would drive a loaded delivery truck to the construction site. Occasionally a son would ride along. The journey, through Deadwood, Lead, and up and down Strawberry Hill, "seemed to take forever", recount the boys. In the late 50's he and Maxine submitted a bid to the Boeing Company for heating equipment for each of the small building used by Boeing and the Army Corps of Engineers at the construction site of each Minuteman missile base. They won the contract and thus began an effort to install 100 tanks and 200 space heaters at the various construction locations, and supply the propane. At this same time, Arnold, began to search for someone to haul transport-loads of propane for him exclusively. A mutual friend introduced him to Jim Dixon. They agreed that Jim would use his tractor to pull Arnold's propane trailer. That agreement in 1960 began both a company and a continuing business relationship. Dixon Brothers, Inc., grew to be a regional trucking firm and still pulls for its first customer, McPherson Propane. In the early 80's, Arnold and Maxine sold McPherson Propane to their sons.

Working seemed to be Arnold's vocation as well as avocation. "There wasn't a day that I didn't want to go to work", he said. He did serve on the Sturgis City Council for 3 terms. He was a avid supporter of the Basin League baseball both in the bleachers and on the Board of Directors. When his son's were young, he was cub master of Pack 14. Arnold also served a number of terms as Elder on the Session of the Presbyterian Church, was a member of the building committee for the present building, and sang in the Chancel Choir for many years. Arnold loved to drum and spent many nights playing for dances around the community. He and Maxine were quite active in Job's Daughters and is a Past Association Bethel Guardian to Bethel #12. In the mid-80's they traveled around the state, escorting Maxine while she fulfilled her duties as Grand Guardian of South Dakota. Arnold was a 60 year Mason of Olive Branch Lodge and also belonged to Naja Shrine Temple, the York Rite and the Scottish Rite.

Survivors include his wife, Maxine of Sturgis and two sons, and their spouses, Eugene and Lynne McPherson and David and Susan McPherson both of Sturgis and one daughter, Marcia and husband Dan Johnston of Sturgis; eight grandchildren, one great grandson; also three brothers, Earl McPherson, Donald McPherson and Dale McPherson and one sister, Mae Keffeler.

He was preceded in death by his sister, three brothers, and one granddaughter.

Burial at the Bear Butte Cemetery.

Arrangements by Kinkade Funeral Chapel