Arthur Reno

1938 - 2025

Arthur (Art) Willis Reno of Billings, Montana passed away on Wednesday, October 29 in Comfort Care at the Billings Clinic after a sudden and severe pancreatitis episode. He went for his bi-weekly walk around Optimist Park the same morning he went to the hospital.

Art was born in Hardin, Montana on March 6, 1938, to Rex Joy Reno and Bernice Coleman Reno. Art was the oldest of four children (Elizabeth 'Liz' Reno Brown, Milo Reno, Jim Reno) and was preceded in death by Elizabeth and Milo. Art is survived by his wife Phyllis Morgan Reno, their three children and spouses, Douglas A. Reno, Shelly A. Reno (Angela Converse), Ann Reno (Jen Woods), and his Grandson, Parker Morgan Reno-Zinn.

In high school (Billings Senior, Class '56), his little sister Liz set him up on a date with her best friend Phyllis Morgan for a holiday hayride. The rest is history --marrying after high school and spending the next 66 years together.

Although a heart rate irregularity kept Art out of the Air Force (this devastated him), he was a lifelong outdoors's man (camped last month at 87), weightlifter, angler, and medaled in the Montana State Games well into his late 70's. He loved coaching people to challenge themselves and change their physique in the weight room. He built an Olympic Lifting room in his garage well before Cross Fit was popular and participated in both Body Building and Bench Press Competitions. Art worked for 39 years in a variety of Logistics roles for Ryan's/SuperValu Foods.

Art was also an inventor, a writer, and somewhat of a Renaissance person, creating personal collage pieces for his children, grandson, and friends. His multiple inventions and iterations on fishing gear in the 60's and 70's are widely available at outdoor stores today. Even though he never monetized any of these ideas, he could not stop himself from "improving and customizing everything." His writing included letters to the opinion pages of multiple fishing magazines and the "Letter to the Editor" of the Gazette. The family will always laugh when remembering the different aliases he used when his opinion was hyper-critical.

Art was enormously proud of his wife's garden, the accomplishments of their three children, their grandson, and any Montana kid who played high school and/or college sports. He was an enthusiastic fan of MT high school athletics, reciting accolades, and passing along clippings from the Billings Gazette.

Art was an avid and talented angler and access to Montana's rivers for "everyone" was paramount to his values. He knew the best spots and river access from every town. He could site the biggest games, and if he ran into you, you would know too! He also loved the local bars in all these towns and knew where to grab a "cold one" after a day on the river.

Art's unique personality and sense of humor will be missed deeply. In lieu of cards and flowers, any donations can be sent to the Public Land Water Access Association (PLWA).