Obituary of Arlie David Rauch

December 19, 1947 - December 15, 2021

SIERRA VISTA, AZ — Arlie D. Rauch was born on December 19, 1947 in Wolf Point, Montana, to Herbert and Ida (Schmidt) Rauch. He went to be with the Lord on December 15, 2021 in a hospital in Tucson, Arizona.

Arlie was beloved by all and lived life well, serving Christ. He will be missed by his wife of 50 years, Ruth. Together they built a life bringing four children into the world: Merrily, Andrae, Renessa, and Carmody.

Arlie grew up in Wolf Point. At one time, he attended a one-room school. He graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1965. He played in the Wolf Point High School band. He also participated in Gospel Fellowship Youth Group, and took part in Quiz team.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Grace College of the Bible in Omaha, Nebraska in 1969. While at Grace, he played trumpet and sang bass in various musical groups. He traveled for ten weeks in the summer of 1967 with the King's Men Quartet from Grace. The group traveled all the way from Omaha to Manitoba and Saskatchewan, served at camps in Colorado and California, and gave concerts at many churches along the way. Arlie maintained a life-long relationship with each member. It was while attending Grace that he met his wife to be, Ruth Penner, from Beatrice, Nebraska. She was also gifted musically, excelling at piano and organ. They were married on June 26, 1971 in Beatrice. In 1970 and 72, Arlie received further theological training at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Arlie pastored churches in Bridgewater and White Lake, South Dakota, in Columbus, Nebraska, and in Glendive, Montana. He also made a living as a piano tuner/technician as well as working for Mayflower as a mover.

The couple enjoyed traveling. They visited friends in Brazil. In 2018 they celebrated their 47th Wedding Anniversary in Istanbul with Hans and Merrily on their way to Kyrgyzstan.

Arlie enjoyed motorcycle touring and was the Membership Director for Turbo Motorcycle International Owners Association. He took some lengthy trips on various motorcycles he owned. He also really enjoyed gardening, playing chess and music. Arlie was involved in directing and singing in community choirs and playing in community bands. He also taught lessons on the trumpet.

Upon retirement, the couple moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona in order to be nearer family. The couple enjoyed the desert flowers and vistas.

On November 27 both Arlie and Ruth tested positive for COVID. Her symptoms were light, but Arlie's condition gradually worsened. He spent the last week of his life in a hospital in Tucson, but was able to communicate with family until the end. The family wants to share that on December 15, 2021, Arlie David Rauch left his Earthly Home for his Heavenly Home.

Arlie is survived by his loving and adoring wife Ruth; his daughters Merrily (Hans) Wolters and Renessa (Sy) Belohlavek; his sons Andrae (Monica) and Carmody (Christy); nine grandchildren; his sister Ila Hagen; and his brother Harry (Myrna). He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Ida Rauch.

Please join Arlie’s family in celebrating God’s goodness and faithfulness at a service on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at 5:30 PM, at First Baptist Church, Sierra Vista, Arizona. To view the live-stream service go to https://arlieandruth.wixsite.com/website