Arlen Irol Fordahl, 91, of Austin, died on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at St. Mark's Living in Austin. He was born May 25, 1935, in Kenyon, the son of Kenneth and Ila (Haugen) Fordahl. Arlen grew up in Kenyon with his mother, Ila Ruud and his two sisters, and on the Haugen family farm located north of Kenyon, where his grandmother lived. He graduated from Kenyon High School in 1953. Arlen's true talent was through woodwork and flooring, starting his career with Maus Woodwork where he worked from 1949 to 1954. In 1954, Arlen married Lois Tucker, raising five children together before divorcing. He worked for a year at Lake Street in Minneapolis before returning to Maus Woodwork, where he worked for seven more years before starting his own business, Fordahl Floor Covering. When Arlen retired, he was welding for Wenger's in Owatonna.

On May 4, 1990, he married Virginia (Naughton) Groth in Pine Island and shared 14 years of marriage until her passing in 2004. After Virginia passed, Arlen and JoAnn Lancaster found love and connection after they both experienced the loss of a spouse. They wintered in Texas together as well as travelled with Arlen’s daughter, Teri, to Norway and Hawaii. Arlen was able to spend over twenty years with JoAnn until her passing this last spring.

He was an avid sports enthusiast. Had a wonderful talent for woodworking and carpentry; he built cabinets and furniture, and laid carpet, linoleum and tile. When he wasn't busy, Arlen volunteered on the Kenyon Fire Department as a firefighter for numerous years, as well as serving as Fire Chief. He was on the Kenyon School Board from 1976 to 1982.

When Arlen was asked what his greatest accomplishment was, he said, "My kids. I'm most proud of my kids." He further said he is the kind of guy who would give a sarcastic or self-deprecating answer to a question, that was who he was.

Arlen is survived by his children, Ken (and Marlene) of Rushford, Rod (and Kristen Cogswell) of Red Lodge, MT, Dan (and Nancy) of Deerwood, Teri (and Tom) Skaar of Eagan, and Bruce (and Sue) of Pillager; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; his former spouse, Lois Tucker; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Walter Ruud; his wife, Virginia; longtime partner, JoAnn (Voxland) Lancaster; infant daughter, Victoria Fordahl; sisters, Helen (and Stanley) Fleming and Virginia (and Wallace) Aase; and step-brother, Corp. Wayne Ruud.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Kenyon with a visitation one hour prior. Interment will be held at Kenyon Cemetery with a reception to follow at the Kenyon VFW.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Croix Hospice.