Craig Arnold Brown

About Craig

Craig Arnold Brown, 57, of Bena, MN, suddenly left this world on March 9, 2022, as a result of an automobile accident in Mountain Home, Idaho.

Craig was born May 4, 1964, to Gary and Janet Brown in Cherokee, Iowa. He was raised in Sioux City, IA spending his childhood playing baseball, football, basketball, camping (in MN), and spending time with family in Galva, IA.

In 1979, at age 15, the Brown Family moved to Bena, MN after purchasing McArdle’s Resort where they began living their dream! Craig attended school in Cass Lake, MN and participated in football, basketball, and baseball.

Craig played college baseball at Bemidji State University and received an invitation to try out for the Minnesota Twins as a third baseman! Craig met the love of his life, Paige (Reimer), in high school dating as juniors and united in marriage on October 6, 1984.

Craig and Paige moved to Stillwater, OK to continue Craig’s baseball career; however, Craig became passionately involved in dairy farming and left his baseball path. They lived in Stillwater until November 1988, returning to Minnesota after the birth of their son, Matthew.

They returned to live and work full time at McArdle’s Resort and be close to family. Their second son, Nathan was born April 1990. Craig and Paige eventually purchased the resort from his parents and continued operating it to present day alongside Nathan and his wife, Tessa. It did not take long to see how much Craig loved the resort; scooping ice cream, mowing the lawn, or talking fishing.

Craig had a sense of humor that resonated with nearly everyone who met him and could seemingly build instant friendships with anyone who walked through the front door.

Craig treasured time spent with his wife, sons, friends, and family. His favorite activities included fishing, fishing, fishing, and fishing. Craig was an accomplished fisherman with many tournament victories, early ties to Northland Tackle, pro-staff sponsorships, and nearly forty years as a multi-species fishing guide on Lake Winnibigoshish. What Craig enjoyed most was talking fishing and telling stories in the Lodge at the Resort and spending time on the water with family and friends.

Craig also spent time hunting, golfing, playing Yahtzee (standard and triple), best-out-of-100 cribbage games, playing cards, playing board games, and playing video games (evidenced by the graveyard of broken Nintendo and Xbox controllers). Fun fact: there was a time period where Craig’s primary method of communication with Matthew and Nathan was through Xbox live.

Craig’s faith in God, love of the outdoors, enduring family, and fun perspective on life will be his mark left in the minds and hearts of many.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gary, and grandson, Liam.

He is survived by his loving family: wife Paige; 2 sons, Matthew (Jackie) Brown of Duluth, MN and Nathan (Tessa) Brown of Bena, MN; 3 grandchildren, Mila, Lily and Archer; mother, Jan Brown of Baxter, MN; brothers Curt (Jan) Brown of Baxter, MN, Carey (Sonja) Brown of Baxter, MN, and Chad (Heidi) Brown of Sheldon, IA; nieces and nephews.

memorial service

Memorial Services for Craig

March 26, 2022

Trinity Lutheran Church 123 29th St NE, Bemidji, MN 56601, USA

Visitation will start at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions will be used towards a memorial for Craig.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home