Arvid Virgil Jackson, of North Platte, passed into his eternal rest on Friday, February 15, 2019, at Centennial Park Retirement Village after nearly four years of cancer treatments and surgeries.  He endured much in his struggle to survive but was overcome the day after turning 93 on Valentine’s Day.

Arvid was born February 14, 1926, at Bloomington, Nebraska, to Arthur E. and Eulah B. (Jay) Jackson, the fifth of nine children.  He grew up and attended school in Wilcox until the family moved to Ogallala where he went to high school, graduating in 1944.  While in high school, Arvid had a job helping build the Kingsley Dam.

One evening in North Platte, Arvid met and fell in love with a young lady by the name of Florence Evangeline Forseberg.  Their courtship was short since Arvid left for the Navy three months later but their love lasted.  Arvid served two years in the South Pacific aboard a crew transport ship then returned home after his discharge in 1946.  Arvid and Florence were united in marriage on July 14, 1946, at the Svea Dal Church in Wild Horse Valley, north of Brady.  They were blessed with four sons and nearly 72 years of marriage before she passed away on June 28, 2018.

Arvid and Florence attended Moody Bible College in Omaha for a year before moving to North Platte where he hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad as a Pipe Fitter on July 10, 1950.  After 37 years Arvid retired with a disability and began his full retirement, helping family and friends whenever he could.  Being born on Valentine’s Day must have been a sign of his future because he truly had the biggest of hearts as he was always willing to help or give to anyone in need and knew no strangers.  Arvid had a strong faith in God and was an active member of the North Platte Berean Church.

Along with his loving wife, Florence, Arvid was preceded in death by their son, Tommy; his parents, two brothers and five sisters; as well as many other family and friends.

He is survived by his three sons, Dave (Nancy), of Phillipsburg, KS, and Jim (Sally) and Tim (Karen) , of North Platte; seven grandchildren, Davey Jackson, Tiffany Lee, Jordana Breckenridge, Chris Jackson, Rachel Collins, Alicia Bostwick and Tyler Jackson; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Laurel Kay; and other family.

Funeral Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, 2019, at the North Platte Berean Church.  Burial with Military Honors will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens.  Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Maranatha Bible Camp or American Cancer Society.