Funeral service for Sherry Arnold, 43, Sidney, is 2 p.m., Friday, March 30, 2012, at the Sidney High School gymnasium with Pastor David Warner from Trinity Lutheran Church officiating.
Music will be provided by Sharon Smelser, Sharon Whited, Catherine Arnold, Karen Arnold Truax and Mary Pfau.
Casketbearers are Roger Thompson, Ron Thompson, Janet Erhardt, Kay Thompson, Gary Whited, Rhonda Whited-Rupp, Tom Arnold and James Arnold. Honorary casketbearers are all the staff and students, alumni of Sidney High School, and all of her many family and friends. Ushers are Deb Prevost, Staci Rice, Melvin and Luella Leland, Kathy Johnson and Tammy Pedersen.
Interment will be in the Sidney Cemetery under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Sherry Arnold Scholarship Fund for her children at Stockman Bank in Sidney. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com.
Sherry was born Feb. 13, 1968, the daughter of Ron and Sharon (Thompson) Whited, in Sidney. She grew up and attended country school near the family ranch through fifth grade with her sister, Rhonda. It was in grade school when she was given the name “Bright Eyes.” Sherry and Rhonda took pride in their 4-H steers and riding across the hills on “Chico” and “Jubilee.” She then attended Rau School near Sidney for one year and then joined Rhonda in Sidney.
She completed high school as valedictorian in 1986. She pursued her teaching degree at UND-W and was a member of the Teton volleyball team. After receiving her associate degree, she attended Dickinson State to complete her teaching degree in 1990. Her teaching career began in Tioga, N.D., followed by Bishop Ryan in Minot, N.D., and the last 18 years in Sidney as a math teacher, first at Sidney Middle School and later at Sidney High School.
She was married to Jerome Papineau in 1994 and became a very proud mother of two beautiful children, Jason and Holly. Her children filled her life with endless joy and happiness.
Sherry met her husband Gary while they were teaching in Sidney. They were married Sept. 12, 1998. They became a beautiful, blended family with Gary’s children, Karen, Catherine and James. Together the family enjoyed taking skiing trips, driving to Minneapolis to watch the Minnesota Twins, or fulfilling one of Sherry’s dreams of taking the kids on a trip to Disney World.
Sherry and her husband shared love and deep friendship, going on “drivel-walks” during which they shared together the events of the day. Sherry truly enjoyed life at home with her husband and children and would often remark, “I love our rut,” to describe her life there. She was fond of making many different sweet desserts and enjoying these with her family; she had particular soft spots for peanut butter bars, Special K Bars and rhubarb jelly.
Always among her goals was to be the best teacher she could. Sherry was always willing to help any student who needed help, and this was evident in the high regard in which her students held her. Just this past fall, Sherry was selected as KTVQ’s Teacher of the Month. Though Sherry loved to teach math, by example she also taught her students life lessons in integrity, quiet determination, positive attitude and enjoying life. Nothing illustrated these virtues more than her six-year battle and final defeat of a rare cancer.
Sherry’s favorite time of the year was summer. During this time she enjoyed running, walking, sun tanning on her deck, working around her yard, coaching softball, horseback riding, helping on the ranch, and driving her family crazy watching ESPN and Chicago Cubs baseball. Sherry was also partial to the Minnesota Vikings. An avid runner, Sherry once completed the half-marathon in Deadwood, S.D.
Always placing others first, always lending a hand, and always keeping family at the forefront, Sherry lived and enjoyed life to its fullest. Her parents are so proud of all her accomplishments. She was such a fighter.
Our Dear Sherry was doing what she loved to do, running, when she was tragically taken away from us on Jan. 7, 2012, and went to be with our Lord and Savior.
Sherry is survived by: her husband, Gary Arnold, Sidney; her children, Jason Papineau and Holly Papineau, Sidney; a stepson, James Arnold, Sidney; step-daughters Karen Arnold-Truax, St. Paul, Minn., and Catherine Arnold, Grand Forks, N.D.; her parents, Ronald and Sharon Whited, Sidney; a sister, Rhonda Whited-Rupp, Sidney; and a grandson, Henry Truax, St. Paul.