Pastor Duane Arneson, 81, of Sioux Falls, SD passed away on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

Memorial Service will be 2:00 pm Saturday, March 8, at Miller Funeral Home Southside Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD with the family greeting friends one hour prior to the service.

Please Click here to view the live stream of the service.

Pastor Duane Carl Arneson was born June 30, 1943, on a ranch outside of Sturgis, SD, to Elmer and Mary Bowlby Arneson. They moved to Sioux Falls later where he attended Washington High School and graduated in 1961.  He attended a semester at Augustana College (where he hilariously failed out of Religous Studies). He met his wife, Mary, on a blind date and they were married on March 20, 1965, at First Methodist Church in Sioux Falls.  Pastor Duane continued his education at University of Colorado and then University of Texas where he earned his MBA.

His first position was at New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, NM, where he was Director of the student union.  His next position was at the University of Texas in Austin, TX, as a fundraiser.  He then went to work at Mary Hardin Baylor College in Belton, TX, where he spoke the powerful words, "If I'm going to work for a Christian college, then I should be a Christian!"  The rest is history!  Pastor Duane started living for Christ and spreading His loving Word.

They moved back to Sioux Falls, SD, where they started Cornerstone Church in the basement of their home in 1980. Their ministry has flourished ever since and Pastor Duane leaves a legacy of impacting thousands of lives with his influential ministry and message of Faith, Love, and Prosperity.

When he wasn't "pastoring" he enjoyed racquetball, pool, and ping pong.  His favorite show was NCIS and he recently started to enjoy watching Gunsmoke reruns.  He thoroughly enjoyed watching football and basketball games on tv with a big bowl of homemade popcorn (and of course a Pepsi!)

He is preceded in death by parents, Elmer Arneson, Mary Bowlby Arneson, and sister Elma Arneson Smith. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Boschee Arneson, son Todd Arneson (Laurie), daughter Nicole Arneson Hamilton, and two grandsons, Nicholas Arneson and Lake Hamilton.