LANSFORD – Arlan Clifford Wenstad, 79, Lansford, died Thursday, April 2, 2026, at a Bottineau nursing home. 
He was born October 4, 1946, in Bottineau County, to Oscar and Elberta (Andersen) Wenstad, and was raised in the Turtle Mountains.  He was the oldest of eight children.  He was educated in a small country school in Willow Lake, and later in Dunseith.  He later earned his GED in 1991.  He worked at Johnny’s Standard Station in Westhope.  He met Darlene Thompson, who was a waitress, and they fell in love.  On December 29, 1967, they got married in Landa. 
He was drafted into the U.S. Army on April 25, 1968, and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War.  He was given the nickname “Winnie” by his Army brothers.  He was discharged on April 23, 1970. 
Following his discharge from the Army, they lived in Westhope, Bottineau, Rolette, and settled in Lansford.  He worked at Johnny’s Standard Station in Westhope.  In Bottineau, he worked at the Standard Station, and in Rolette, he managed the Tesoro station.  He worked at Johnston’s Chevrolet as a mechanic from 1974 until 1991.  He worked at the Minot Air Force Base as a civilian mechanic.  You could find him tinkering in the garage, whether it be working on his vehicles, or other people’s vehicles.  He started his own business, AC Repair, doing small engine repair until his health started to decline.  
Arlan and Darlene welcomed three children into their family, Clifford, James and Shelly.  When the kids helped him out in the garage, they definitely learned a few new words when things didn’t go right!  Arlan took pride in restoring classic cars, especially his 1967 Chevelle Malibu.  He assisted his son, James, with restoring his 1968 El Camino. 
Arlan was a member of the Dakota Cruisers Car club.  He was also very involved in the Lansford Threshing days and the Lansford Threshermen and Historical Association; you could hear him playing his guitar, and he was willing to help out with the tractors when he could.  He also wrote songs and played guitar.  When it was a nice day out, he would be playing his guitar in his garage and singing, pretty sure the whole town heard him.  Arlan sang “Sneaky Snake” and “You are my sunshine” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He was very proud of his family, that’s for sure. 
Family: He survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Darlene; children, Clifford (Tarri Jo), James (special friend, Amy), and Shelly; seven grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; brothers, Donald Wenstad and Curtis Wenstad; sisters, Pam Lang and Connie Turner; sisters-in-law, Jodi Quiner, Susan Smith, Sharon Tennyson, Debra Thompson and Cheryl Thompson; brothers-in-law, Richard Thompson, Kevin Thompson; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 
Arlan was preceded in death by: His parents; father- and mother-in-law, Kermit and Alvina (Hiatt) Thompson; sisters, Bobbi Wenstad, Donna Wenstad and Debbie Slyter; brothers-in-law, Gordon Thompson, Randy Thompson, Larry Thompson Elwood Smith, Greg Quiner, Donald Tennyson and Lawrence Turner; niece, Stacey Slyter; nephew, Allan Turner.
Memorial Service: 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Lansford Threshing Grounds, Lansford. 
Burial: Lansford Cemetery, Lansford. 
Memorials: Memorials preferred to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516. 
Friends may sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com. 
(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)