Arlene E Westberg

Arlene Eleanor Westberg, age 97, died on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home.

Arlene was born on November 5, 1926, the oldest child of Axel and Ella Brenden. She and her two younger siblings were raised near Rothsay, Minnesota on a farm. Her faith was nurtured at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She graduated from Rothsay High School in 1944, then attended Moorhead State Teachers College where she got her teaching degree. She taught elementary school in Glenwood and Hoffman where she met her husband, LeMay Westberg. They were married in 1948 and started their life together on the family farm northeast of Hoffman. They raised their four children, Diane, Cynthia, Shirley and Curt, on the farm. LeMay passed away suddenly of a heart attack in 1967 when Arlene was 40. She worked at a bakery in Hoffman and cooked at the Hoffman Public School. Her skills as a teacher were utilized for many years assisting developmentally disabled adults in Hoffman and Alexandria. She loved learning so much that she went back to school through a correspondence program at Moorhead State and earned her bachelor’s degree in Special Education in 1984. After retiring, she took on the task of developing a library for Hoffman residents.

Arlene loved guiding her children in the 4-H program, teaching them to bake, sew, and many other life skills. Her family was most important to her and she loved to celebrate birthdays – often with a frosted angel food cake - and holidays – with meatballs, potatoes, and gravy. She was a good cook and always made certain to have enough food for every occasion. She proudly sewed quilts for each of her grandchildren as they graduated from high school. She was lifelong member of Bethel and Messiah Lutheran Church. She trained to be a Stephen minister and found this calling to be fulfilling.

After selling her house in 2015 in Hoffman, she moved to Pioneer Pointe apartments in Fergus Falls where she lived independently for four years. She then returned to Hoffman to reside at the Hoffman Senior Living facility. In July of 2023 she moved to the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck where she resided until her death.

She is survived by her children, Diane (Woody) of Dawson, Cynthia (Keith) of Browns Valley, Shirley (Rick) of Gold Canyon, AZ, and Curt (Tammy) of Dayton; 12 grandchildren, Laura, David, Jake, Jessie, Luke, Joe, Howard, Amy, Greg, Emily, Breanna, and Alan; and 16 great grandchildren; a brother, Eldon Brenden of Rothsay; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband; daughter-in-law, Darla; parents; sister Joyce; brother-in-law, Bob Bruns; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Brenden.

Funeral Service to be held 12 Noon, Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Messiah Lutheran Church, in Hoffman, Minnesota, with a visitation beginning an hour prior.

Family flowers are coming from Rustic Edge Floral and Decor; (320)563-8969