Arnold Oscar Newquist

Arnold Oscar Newquist, 97, of Fullerton, passed away Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, at Accura Healthcare in Fullerton.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at Palmer-Santin Funeral Home in Fullerton, with Phil Tilson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Fullerton Cemetery in Fullerton, with military honors conducted by Fullerton American Legion Post 151, VFW Post #5759 and the United States Army Honor Guard. Palmer-Santin Funeral Home is serving the family.

Arnie was born on March 24, 1928, to Carl and Violet (Hansen) Newquist on the family farm near Wolbach. He attended Olive School District #13 near Belgrade and Belgrade High School. After helping his father farm near Belgrade for a few years, he enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1949. Following his military service, Arnie worked at a foundry for one year in Fremont before returning to Fullerton. On May 10, 1952, he married Ruby Zipf, and the couple made their home west of Belgrade, where they farmed for eight years. Arnie then began a career in construction, traveling and living in Bradshaw, Fort Thompson, S.D., and Sultan, Wash.

In 1968, Arnie and Ruby returned to Fullerton. He worked for one year at the nuclear plant in Brownsville before starting a construction business with his brother, Lyle, and Julius Gryzwa. He continued working in construction off and on for another 20 years alongside his son, Ron. After, he worked in maintenance at Valley View Assisted Living for ten years before finally retiring.

Arnie had a love for country music and traveled all over the country going to music festivals. He was also a member of Belgrade American Legion Post #99 and Fullerton American Legion Post #151.

He is survived by his sons, Doug (Barb) Newquist and Ron (Kathy) Newquist, both of Fullerton; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brother, Lyle (Joyce) Newquist of Fullerton; sister, Mary Ann Learing of Story City, Iowa ; and sisters-in-law, Ann Newquist of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Velma Gailbraith of Red Bluff, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby; his parents; brothers, Carl ‘Cork’ (Beverly) Newquist and Harold ‘Pete’ Newquist; sister, Donna (Louis) Adams; and infant sister, Norma Jean.