Arthur Graslie, age 79, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 19, 2004, at his home in White, South Dakota, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, November 23, 2004, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in White, South Dakota, with interment in Fairview Cemetery at White. Military graveside rites will be given by the Higgins-Jessen American Legion Post No. 88, of White. Visitations will be from 5-8 P.M. Monday at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Zion Ev. Lutheran Church, the Arthur Graslie City Park in White, or the White Historical Museum. Arthur Graslie was born on a farm in Oak Lake Township north of White on October 14, 1925, to Andrew O. and Maria (Rue) Graslie Kindler. He was baptized in Singsaas Lutheran Church at rural Hendricks and confirmed in Bethel Lutheran Church at Astoria. The family moved to the north side of Oak Lake in the early 1930s and moved to White in 1934. He attended country schools in Lake Hendricks District No. 71 and No. 74, Sherman District No. 103, and White Public grade and high school, graduating in 1944. He entered the service in February 1944 after accelerating his studies. He received a medical discharge in October 1944. He enrolled in Nettleton commercial College in January 1945 in Business Administration, graduating at the end of 1946 with an Associate Degree. He worked as Assistant Office Manager at H.E. Neeley Wholesale Groceries for a while in Sioux Falls, returning to White in January 1948 to be employed at the First National Bank of White. He served the bank in various capacities for nine years. He married Helen M. Hinrichsen, daughter of John and Gladys Hinrichsen on August 26, 1956, in White. He began employment as Accounting Instructor at Nettleton Commercial College in September 1956 until September 1965. He was also the music director at the college for a few years. In September 1965 he purchased Ralph Holdens interest in First National Bank of White and assumed the presidency and CEO. He established an insurance agency in the bank and later became a licensed real estate broker. He suffered some serious illness and in June 1977 sold controlling interest in the bank to Robert Fishback. Art continued as the Chairman of the Board until retiring in 1988. Art organized a band called the Town and Country Swingers in the late 1960s, continuing for nearly ten years and playing for nearly one thousand engagements, and received a citation from the National Ballroom Associating for excellence in performance. His interests were varied, and he served eight years as the mayor of White. He was a Brookings County Commissioner for eight years. He established the City Park in White, helped establish an athletic complex, and served on the planning committee for the McKnight Community Hall. He helped in the establishment of the White Care Center, White Development Corporation, and White Area Historical Society. He served as an officer of the Fairview Cemetery Association since 1969, helped organize the lake Hendricks Improvement Association, and served 21 years within the Association. He organized the Brookings County Bankers Association, served on the advisory board of the SDSU Oak lake Field Station, and was a member of the American Legion for over 50 years. He served as a Sunday School teacher in Sioux Falls and White, and as choir director and in various other church offices. He loved to travel and look his family on many camping trips to almost all states and several provinces of eastern Canada, traveled to Europe four times visiting several countries and numerous relatives in Norway and Germany. Survivors include his wife, Helen, of White; four daughters: Sheryl (Randy) Brown of White, Nancy Thompson of Luverne, Minnesota, Janice Collett of White, and Joan (Bert) Kreitlow of White; one son, Brian Graslie of Madison, South Dakota; a sister, Clara Wright, of White; a brother, Elmer (Clara) Graslie of San Jose, California; a step-brother, Stanley (LouElla) Kindler of Morton, Minnesota; two step-sisters: Bernice Hickey of Mankato, Minnesota, and Mary Ann Sachett of Storden, Minnesota; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and infant brother; two brothers, Oscar and Johnnie Graslie; and a sister, Mabel Okimoto.