Arnold Charging Sr., (nax-bicci-nuuba) "Two Bears", 78, White Shield, passed from this world and began his journey into the Spirit World on August 14, 2011 of natural causes. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10:00 am at the Ralph Wells Jr. Memorial Complex in White Shield. Burial will be at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in rural White Shield.

Wake services will be held on Thursday beginning at 5:00 pm at the complex.

Arnold was born October 8, 1932 in Elbowoods, ND. He was the son of George and Rose (Packineau) Charging and Miriam Packineau. Arnold was a member of the a-PO-KA-WI-KA (Low Cap) clan and a child of the Water Buster clan.

He attended Lucky Mound Day School through the sixth grade and graduated from Elbowoods High School in 1952.

Arnold was a stellar athlete in high school football and basketball. He helped lead the Elbowoods Warriors to the ND State Basketball Tournament in 1951. He was named to the 5th Annual National High School All-American Football Squad of 1951 and invited to play in the annual East-West All Star Football game on August 27, 1952. Due to circumstances with the postal services back then, Arnold didn't receive the invitation in time to be able to make the trip to Memphis, TN to play in this prestigious game. Upon graduation from high school, Arnold was offered a football scholarship to Notre Dame and was being recruited by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a professional Canadian Football team. He always said that football was his favorite sport. His athletic talents also included rodeo, which complimented his life-long love of horses. He was a saddle bronc rider, bull dogger, and team roper. Dale Brown, Minot native, retired coach of the LSU Tigers and Arnold's good friend, described him as the "modern day Jim Thorpe". Arnold was also a proud charter trustee for the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame.

He married the love of his life, Cleo Stone on April 1, 1952. From this union six children were born. They began life together in Elbowoods, where Arnold drove ambulance for the Elbowoods Hospital. With the inundation of the Garrison Dam, Arnie and Cleo and their young son, George, moved to the East Segment (later named White Shield) in 1954. Arnold began a 37 year BIA career as a bus driver and eventually Supervising Facilities Manager in White Shield. He retired in 1991.

Arnold is survived by his wife of 59 years, Cleo, White Shield; three sons, George (Regina), New Mexico, Arnold Jr. (Darla), Bismarck; Brent (Shawn), Riverdale; three daughters, Denise Bercier, Belcourt, Anita Charging, Mandan, and Clarice Charging, Portland, OR; two adopted daughters, Sandra Bercier and Lisa Laducer, both of Belcourt; one sister, Carmen Eagle, New Town; 14 grandchildren, Fabian and Nathaniel Charging, Elliot Bercier, Nathan Arnold Charging, Brianna and Larissa Baird, Kent, Cray and Stone Hudson, Deseray Jacobs, Matthew and Whitney Charging, Keelia and Taya Charging. Two great grandsons, Austin Charging and Gavin Hilfer, and many nieces, nephews, godchildren, and his extended family which includes other nieces, nephews,brothers, sisters, and grandchildren and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 brothers, Duane and Kenneth Charging, Wayne and Bill Sears and Glen Brunsell, 3 sisters, Pauline Fox, Alvina Anden, and Grace Henry.

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle will be dearly missed, but his love for all of us will continue to shine brightly within our hearts and give us the strength to go on and that would make him proud!