Arnold Huizenga

Arnold R. “Arnie” Huizenga, 84, of Prescott, Arizona, passed away on September 24, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born on November 21, 1941, in the family home on his parents’ farm near Corsica, South Dakota as the firstborn child of Arthur and Florence (Maas) Huizenga. Arnie was raised with three brothers, Ray, Norm, and Roger, and one sister, Wilmetta, affectionately known as “Willie.”

Arnie attended Dakota Christian High School in New Holland, South Dakota, and later spent a year at Dordt College in Rock Valley, Iowa. Around this time, Arnie met Betty Hubers, and on June 1, 1962 they were married. Together, until about 1986, they raised four children: Kevin, Kent, Sharon, and Laura. They built a life centered on family, church, hard work, travel, and many adventures. Betty remembers especially fondly their month-long trip to Madagascar and a church camping trip to Edmonton, Canada. During these early adult years, Arnie supported his family as store manager for Tractor Supply in Spencer, Iowa, before beginning a more than 30-year career as an office manager and estimator with Chuck Equipment and Repair, which later became First Rate Excavating, in Sioux Falls. In the late 1980’s, Arnie met Pat Christofferson and began a new chapter in his life. Although they did not marry until August 12, 2000, they shared a long-term relationship that lasted for 32 years. Arnie welcomed Pat’s children, Shaila, Dana, and Jon Christofferson, and Duane Schaefer, into his life as his own. Together, Arnie and Pat were dedicated to their work, traveled extensively and created a lifetime of memories. They enjoyed RVing, visiting national parks and Mexico and attending country music festivals. They retired to their house overlooking the Missouri River around 2010. After Pat’s passing in 2017, Arnie met Kathleen Gillis. They moved to Prescott, AZ in 2020 and then married in 2022. Although their time together was brief, they celebrated their time together with numerous concerts, travel to South Africa in 2025 and their recent 2026 summer RV trip to the new Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library. With his marriage to Kathleen, he also welcomed another daughter, Gillian Haley, and two grandchildren into his blended family.

Arnie is survived by his wife Kathleen Gillis; Betty Jones of Sioux Falls, SD; his brothers, Ray Huizenga of Lynden, WA, Norm Huizenga of Platte, SD, and Roger Huizenga of Platte, SD; his children, Kevin, Kent, Sharon (Robert), Laura, Duane (Jill), Shaila (Lauren), Jon (Emmy), Dana and Gillian (Jeff); his 14 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Huizenga (2000), and Florence (Maas) Huizenga (2002); his sister, Wilmetta “Willie” Punt (2010); his 2nd wife Pat Christofferson.

Arnie’s family and extensive network of friends were the greatest and most endearing parts of his life. Most can recall large parties, family holidays, and informal get-togethers as moments of joy. For Arnie, experiencing life in the fullest, and sharing those experiences and stories with the people he loved is what life was about. He was a natural caretaker, a real gentleman, and had a natural curiosity about the world.

Arnie leaves behind much more than a list of places he visited, jobs he held, and years he lived. He leaves behind a spouse, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, brothers, extended family, old friends and new, and countless stories from a life that took him far beyond the South Dakota farm where it began. His life was measured not only in years and memories made, but mainly in the many strong relationships he maintained with his family and friends. He will be remembered, missed, and loved by the many people whose lives he touched.

Service Information: A church service celebrating Arnie’s life will be held at 12:00 noon on October 19, 2026, at the Christian Reformed Church in Platte, South Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.