Mary Jo Arnold

We are heartbroken to announce that Mary Josephine "Seetsie" Arnold, 84, of Rapid City, SD, passed away peacefully at home on June 20, 2026. Known for her quick wit, fierce independence, and lifelong dedication to helping others, she never met a stranger. Mary Jo leaves behind a profound legacy of love, recovery, and service.

Born April 11, 1942, in Kansas City, Missouri, Mary Jo was a fighter from the start, surviving five blood transfusions before she was two weeks old. She attended high school at St. Teresa’s Academy. Her college career took her to Duschesne College in Omaha, Nebraska. This is also where she began her teaching career and met the love of her life, George Arnold, a Creighton University medical student. They married on June 12, 1965 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO, residing in Omaha until George graduated medical school in 1966.

George's medical education took them to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and then to the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The family moved to Rapid City in 1972 for George's new position as a dermatologist at the Rapid City Medical Center. They raised three children together: Lynn, Patrick, and Michael. Mary Jo adjusted to life in the Black Hills, fell in love with the area, and became an outdoor enthusiast. She enjoyed hiking, skiing, biking and supporting her children’s many activities.

In 1981, Mary Jo embraced a new path of sobriety and authenticity. This sparked her calling as a chemical dependency counselor at West River Mental Health. After her husband's sudden passing in 1991, Mary Jo found solace and purpose in her education, completing her master’s degree in counseling. She started a thriving private practice. During that time, she also facilitated monthly programs for Onsite in the Black Hills.

When Onsite relocated to Tucson, AZ in 1996, Mary Jo embarked on a new adventure. She fell in love with the desert and built a fulfilling career there. Onsite moved again but she stayed in Tucson, working at Ben Bridge Jeweler, serving as a grief counselor at a funeral home, and finding her dream job counseling the homeless as they transitioned back into society at the Five Points Transitional Housing Facility. Her career was defined by compassion and a deep desire to help others.

In 2003, she "was tired of being a part-time grandma" and retired to Rapid City. Back in the Black Hills, she treasured sharing time with her grandchildren, connecting with friends, and exploring the outdoors. She also traveled the globe—visiting locales from Kenya and Bali to Ireland and Ecuador. A passionate, lifelong learner, she was always reading several books at once, eager to discuss her new discoveries. Above all, she was fiercely devoted to the fellowship of the Alano Society, celebrating 44 years of recovery and guiding countless others on their own journeys.

Mary Jo kept her vibrant sense of humor and warmth even through her many health challenges. (She entertained her doctors and often had nurses laughing.) She rallied her last months of life, seeing all of her children and grandchildren, in what was a series of her last hurrahs. With deep gratitude for every moment we shared, we are blessed with her love and broken by her loss, navigating between heavy grief and joyful celebration of the beautiful life she lived.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents, Josephine and Ward McQueeny; and her beloved Maltese, Cotton.Left to cherish her memory are her children, Lynn Arnold (Perry Grosz) of Rapid City, Patrick Arnold (Stacey) of Fort Collins, CO, and Michael Arnold (Jennifer) of Rapid City; and her seven adoring grandchildren, Jackson (Chloe), Isaac, Henry, Leah, Simon, Calvin, and Michael. She also leaves her family of choice with her countless friends.

On Monday, July 6, 2026, visitation will take place one hour prior to her Celebration of Life, which will be held on at 1:00 p.m., at South Canyon Lutheran Church, 700 S 44th St, Rapid City, SD 57702. The service will be livestreamed at https://vimeo.com/event/6031511 

A gathering downstairs for food and fellowship following the service. Guests will have a dedicated time during the service to share cherished memories.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Mary Jo's honor to the Alano Society, 325 Deadwood Avenue, Rapid City, SD 57702.