Arleen Mitchell

Arleen Mitchell…

was born on June 5, 1917 to Ole and Ida (Snare) Jensen on a farm near Slayton, Minnesota. She was baptized in Hadley, Minnesota and confirmed in Slayton. She attended country school and later went on to Slayton High School. She graduated from high school in Balaton, Minnesota in 1936. She was married in February of 1938 to Daryl McLain. To this union one daughter, Mary Lou, was born. Arleen was employed by Texas National Bank in Houston, Texas from 1947 to 1953. On February 14, 1955, she was united in marriage to Levain Mitchell at Opdal Lutheran Church in Florence, Minnesota and quickly adjusted to being a farm wife just south of Twin Lakes near Ruthton, Minnesota. In February of 2000, Levain preceded her in death. In 2002, she moved to Jasper, Minnesota where she lived in the Split Rock Villa Apartments until she entered the Jasper Senior Living Center in October of 2011. She then moved to Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Minnesota in August of 2012. She passed away there on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at the age of 97 years, two months and eight days.

Arleen was a member of Opdal Lutheran Church and held many jobs in the Ladies’ Aid until the church closed. She and Levain then joined Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton. They belonged to Sons of Norway, and spent many hours at the Ruthton mealsite. She and Levain traveled extensively, they visited Norway twice, went on a Bermuda cruise and visited his sisters in Washington many times. They drove their motorhome to Alaska and all over the United States. She loved reading and was seldom seen without a book or newspaper in her hand. She loved music, quilting and visiting friends and family.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Mary Lou and son-in-law, Harland Bjugan of Jasper, Minnesota; two grandchildren, Tracie Bjugan of Sherwood, Oregon and Kelly (JJ) Hudson of Princeton, West Virginia; two great-grandsons, Kasen and Kyler BjuganGreen and one great-granddaughter, Annika Hudson; one sister, Audrey Jensen of Champlin, Minnesota; one brother-in-law, Bruce Christensen of Cherokee, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three brothers, Elwood, John and Duane Jensen; and three sisters, Nadeen Jensen, Avis Barnes and Julienne Christensen.