Arthur D. DeLong

Arthur Duane DeLong, 98, of Clarkston, lived his last journey peacefully home on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 2:17 a.m. from Sacred Heart Medical Center due to congestive heart failure. His three children were lovingly by his side. His family was truly blessed to have such a wonderful father and grandfather. Art is survived by his sister, Marilyn Guston, her daughter, Rhonda Guston and Rhonda’s children, Kenneth and Tomica; and his children, Christine (Randy) Cox, Jeffery DeLong, Gregory (Sharon) DeLong; grandchildren: Matthew Williams, Ambrosia Williams, Whitney DeLong, Nicholas (Emily) DeLong, Alyssa (Nate) Fernandez and Lucas DeLong; and six great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Ailana, Stella, Harlow, Gwendolyn and Cayden.

Art was born in Spokane to John Arthur DeLong and Edith Fern Wright on Oct. 14, 1927. After grade school, John moved his family to Pendleton, Ore., to follow the available mill wright work during World War II. They moved to Tacoma, Wash., where Art started Tacoma Lincoln High School. Art joined his father working as a longshoreman at the Bremerton docks flour mill while attending high school as times were hard and there were no men to work jobs due to the war. Arthur graduated from Lincoln High in 1946 where he majored in machine and auto shop. During that time, he attended the Tacoma Christian Church Youth Group and felt a calling to go into ministry. He received a two-year scholarship to attend Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Ore. As a junior, he met freshman Bebe Carol Fitzsimmons. The first time Art saw Bebe, he told his friends that he was going to marry her. Indeed, they fell in love and were soon married at the Clarkston Christian Church. He graduated N.C.C. with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1953 and moved to Sumner, Wash., where he held his first ministerial position. Art continued his Christian education at Christian Theological Seminary on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind., and graduated after six years with a Master of Arts in Christian Theological Studies. Art had several eye surgeries through these years so it took longer to complete his degree. He served the Brooklyn, Ind., Christian Church while attending. They moved through the years in “Disciples of Christ” Christian Church ministry service to Washington cities: Auburn, Puyallup, Creston and Palouse. Then he spent several years in Lewiston. Art retired from ministry in 1973.

The entire DeLong family was creative. All had roles in the 1971 Lewiston Civic Theater production of “Oliver.” Art played Mr. Bumble. Bebe played the Rose Lady, Jeff played Oliver, Christine played Nancy and Greg was the workhouse boy. Art also went on to play roles in several other plays.

Arthur and Bebe were divorced in 1976. Art raised his sons and worked as Loomis Courier for 15 years.

In 1987, Art joined and sang baritone with the Idaho-Washington Concert Chorale and the Lewis-Clark State College choir. During a rehearsal at LCT’s “Showboat,” Art met Jean Jones. They found they had a lot in common and were married later in 1990. They traveled to Europe twice singing with the Washington-Idaho Symphony Choir. Art sang at Carnegie Hall in 2006. They enjoyed camping and visiting friends and family, square dancing and being creative in theater, artwork, quilting and glass work. Art built many planes including radio-controlled airplanes and joined a local flying club. Several of his planes are now displayed at the Lewiston Airport Museum.

Art delighted in boating the Snake River in his Amphicar and seeing people’s reactions. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Through the years he was a devoted member of the Lewiston First Methodist Church, the Asotin United Methodist Church, and the Valley Spiritual Center and shared his singing, teaching and preaching with all. Art participated in VSC’s study of “A Course in Miracles.” He lived and was cared for in the family home in Clarkston. Everyone was blessed by his generous, loving and caring nature. He was more than our father. He was a dear friend, a counselor and mentor. He truly lived as a “Disciple of Christ.” Family who preceded him in death are his mother and father, a brother Fredrick DeLong and his beloved wives, Bebe and Jean.

A memorial celebration will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Valley Spiritual Center, 2707 27th St., Clarkston. A luncheon will follow. Memorials can be gifted to VSC.