Shane Wesley Arlien, 58, passed away June 26, 2025, at his home in Penn, ND, under Hospice care with his Mother and best friends Paul and Kent at his side.
Shane was born on Feb. 24, 1967, in Grand Forks, ND, to Steve and Glenna Arlien, McVille, ND. He moved with his parents to Aneta, ND, Oct. 1967. He attended grade school in Aneta until moving to Bowman, ND, in 1979. The Arlien’s moved to Mankato Saskatchewan and then to Gravelbourg Saskatchewan before moving back to Aneta in 1984. Shane received his GED in Mayville in 1986 and then joined the ND National Guard.
Shane W. Arlien enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1986, starting an admirable military career that spanned over 39 years, including 35 years full-time at Camp Grafton. He attained his lifelong goals of earning the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five in 2023 and served as Shop Chief of the Combined Support Maintenance Shop from 2020 until his retirement in May 2025.
During his career CW5 Arlien was twice deployed in service in Kosovo and Washington, D.C. in support of our Nation’s defense. He also deployed in emergency operations responses in 2000 to Venezuela following tragic mud slides and multiple times nationally, including in 1993 for flooding in Des Moines, IA., 1997 Grand Forks, ND., 2004 New Orleans, LA., (Hurricane Katrina), 2009 Valley City, ND., and in 2011 Bismarck and Minot, ND.
CW5 Arlien earned multiple medals and citations throughout his military career, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Global War on Terror Medal, National Defense Service Medal (6), Humanitarian Service Medal (9), Kosovo Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, and in March of this year was bestowed the honor of The Ordnance Order of Samuel B. Sharpe from the United States Ordnance Corps Association.
Shane was an avid sportsman, taking in all that North Dakota and beyond could offer. Shane took epic hunting and fishing trips to Colorado, Montana, Canada, Puerto Rico, and too many others to list. His most recent trip in March was to Lake Winnipeg in Canada and was one of his lifelong ambitions to fish for monster greenback Walleye. His passion was hunting with his Dad, Steve. Shane spent many many hours on his huge yard and fixing up his homestead outside of Penn ND.
Shane is survived by his mother Glenna (Fuglem) Arlien, Aneta ND. Uncle, Don Fuglem, Scottsdale AZ, and Aunt, Lana Fuglem, Greenbush MN. And many cousins.
Shane was preceded in death by his Grandparents, Father: Steve Arlien, Uncles: Dean Fuglem, Darrel Fuglem, Aunts: Rita Zimprich and MaryLou Zimprich.
Shane will be buried at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Aneta, along with his best friend “Buddy”, and next to his Dad.
Shanes funeral was held Wednesday, July 2 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aneta, ND where he was buried.
The Edward A. Broberg American Legion Post 16 provided the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors.
(Baker Funeral Home, Mayville, ND)
