Arlene Haaversen

Arlene Claire Haaversen, 83, died on July 5 in Brainerd. She was born on Sept. 14, 1933, to Roy and Fern Munro in St. Vincent, MN. She grew up in Northeast North Dakota and later moved to International Falls, MN, where she graduated high school in 1951.

Arlene attended the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where she met her husband, Bill Haaversen. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta and graduated in 1956 with a degree in education. Her first job was teaching in Buhl, MN. She and Bill were married in International Falls in 1956 while he was in the army, and they were posted to Bamberg, Germany. Arlene flew home in 1958 in time for their first child, Krista, to be born.

The family lived in married housing at the U of MN while Bill finished his architecture degree. They then moved to St. Paul where the boys Carl and David were born. The family attended Fairmont Avenue Methodist Church where Arlene sang in the choir and was a frequent soloist. Later they moved to Bemidji where Arlene worked as chiropractic assistant for Dr. Ivar Sorenson and they were members of the United Methodist Church.

After the kids were grown, Arlene and Bill moved to Brainerd, where she worked briefly at Kinderhaus. She had a very green thumb and took pride in creating the beautiful gardens around their home. She encouraged the family to love music, the outdoors, camping and cross-country skiing. She always enjoyed friends, family, sharing chicken stories and giggling.

Over the years, Arlene was active in PTA, Blue Birds, Camp Fire Girls and Boy Scouts. She was an active member of the Bemidji ski club and volunteered at many cross country ski races.

Arlene is survived by her husband, Bill; daughter Krista, Duluth; sons Carl, Ely; David (Ann), Two Harbors; sister Bobbi Carmody, Nicholasville, KY; grandchildren Jon, Duluth; Rachel, Prescott, AZ; Kiersten Rhode (Bryan), St. Cloud; Eric, Duluth; Cathryn, Ely; Kari, Two Harbors.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter-in-law Nina Haaversen, Ely; and aunt Esther Fisher, Dickinson, ND.

Services will be private. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society or the charity of one's choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN.