Arlene Della Bengtson

Arlene Della Bengtson was born to Arthur and Edith Hanson on September 10, 1925 in Chengwatana Township outside of Pine City, Minnesota. She was one of ten children. Arlene attended Pine City and Hinckley schools. The small town farm girl left for the big city of Minneapolis but returned home to meet her future husband. On May 6, 1949 she married Willard F. Bengtson of Rush City. They were married for 36 years until his death in December of 1985. Arlene and Willard spent the first few years of their marriage in the western part of the state. In May of 1952 they purchased a small two-room cabin in Willernie, Minnesota. They remodeled the cabin and added on rooms to create a comfortable home. This was Arlene’s home until August of this year. Arlene had a number of jobs but went back to Butwin's Sportswear in 1952. She continued to work in the supply room there until her retirement in 1987. Land was purchased and a cabin was built on Horseshoe Lake near McGregor in 1964. Arlene and Willard liked to get up early to go fishing. During the winter months they would ice fish on White Bear Lake. Arlene enjoyed flea markets and garage sales. She even had sales at her home up through last fall. Arlene had a green thumb, especially for indoor plants and flowers. She loved to sew and mend. In December of 1955 their daughter Barbara was born. Arlene enjoyed hosting big family birthday parties for Barb and they hosted many garage sales together. Arlene and Willard welcomed son-in-law Lee Hegfors to the family in 1978. Arlene’s granddaughter Kimberly was born in 1986 and grandson Jeremy was born in 1990. Arlene so loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed playing 500 with Kim and talking and going out for a meal with Jeremy. She greatly valued the close relationships she had with Kim and Jeremy and enjoyed the many conversations they shared. Arlene watched her grandchildren grow up into independent adults. She was so very proud of her only two grandkids. After Willard's death, Arlene spent a number of winter seasons in Harlingen, Texas with her brother-in-law Vern Brinker. After his passing, Arlene would travel to her cabin with her brother Joyce. He would keep her company while she had her yard sales and did some fishing. In her retirement you could find Arlene watching Wheel of Fortune. Arlene was a social butterfly. She enjoyed talking with neighbors and strangers as she walked to the post office. She was full of questions. While in Ebenezer Transitional Care of Burnsville, she kept up with the family lives of many staff members. Everyone loved her smile, her laugh and her zest for life. Arlene passed away on Sunday, September 22nd at the age of 88 years after fighting back from a terrible fall in August followed by a stroke a few weeks later. Arlene is survived by her daughter Barbara (Lee) Hegfors, grandson Jeremy Hegfors of Burnsville, granddaughter Kimberly Hegfors and her fiancé Tyrel Lerum of Richfield, sisters Virginia DeRocker of Sandstone, Jane Kurkowski of Boyd, Minnesota, Gladys D'Angelo of Beaverton, Oregon and Betty McNeil of Lewes, Delaware, sister-in-law Josephine Hanson of Pine City and many nieces and nephews. Arlene is preceded in death by her husband Willard F. Bengtson; parents Arthur and Edith Hanson; sister June Sommerfeld; brothers: George, Leo, Alton and Joyce Hanson; sister-in-law Annette Hanson; and brothers-in-law Bert DeRocker, Al Kurkowski, Lenny D’Angelo, Don Sommerfeld and Jack McNeil. The funeral service will be held Friday, September 27, 2013 at 2:00 PM at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rush City. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the William Taylor Cemetery of Rush City. Arrangements were entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service – Olson Chapel of Rush City: