Arthur Zetterberg

Arthur Carl Zetterberg, 98, passed away on January 11, 2026 at Missoula Valley Senior Living, of natural causes.

He was born on January 10, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois to Carl and Violet Zetterberg. He grew up in Indiana and joined the Navy in 1946. After his discharge from the military, he took advantage of his GI Bill benefit to obtain his GED and went on to college, where he eventually graduated with a Masters degree in Psychology from Bradley University.

On June 25, 1955, he married Patricia Ryan. The couple lived in Pekin, Illinois and raised four children. Art worked for the State of Illinois as a Clinical Psychologist for over 30 years. He began his career at Peoria State Hospital, then to Galesburg State Hospital, and then at the Zeller Zone Clinic in Peoria, Illinois as its Admissions Director. He simultaneously served as the State of Illinois Criminal Psychologist for several years. He retired in 1991 where he and Pat eventually relocated to Montana to be closer to their children.

A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Art was very devoted to his family. He had a great sense of humor and was always ready to tease and laugh. All of his grandchildren became aware that Grandpa had a “bad hand” that would sometimes act on its own. He was compassionate and caring where everyone knew this about him, and it served him well in his professional and personal life. His greatest sense of pride and achievement was his family.

Art loved to fish. He enjoyed preparing for a day of fishing, getting everything ready, being out on the water with family, teasing about who caught the biggest fish, and then preparing the catch for a fish fry with family. He loved to watch his favorite bird, the Great Blue Heron. Whenever he would see one he would say that they were the definition of one of his favorite traits: patience. Art was a patient man as well.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Betty Prairie, and brother Francis Zetterberg. Survivors include his wife, Patricia, Missoula; three sons and their families, Steve (Nikki), Saint Ignatius, Scott (Tammy), Missoula, Eric (Theresa), Lolo, and a daughter Kathy (Todd) Houser, Surfside Beach, SC, along with 18 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

A small graveside service will be held with family on January 21, 2026 at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. A Celebration of Life will be planned later this Spring. Honorary pallbearers are grandsons: Justin Snyder, Kaine Zetterberg, Caleb Zetterberg, Isaac Zetterberg, Nick Zetterberg, Noah Zetterberg, Silas Zetterberg.