Arden Williams

Arden Williams, age 93, of St. James passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato. Arden was born November 22,1926 on the family farm in Watonwan County, Odin, MN, to L H. and Anna (Mandsager) Williams. Arden was baptized in Odin, MN April 24,1927 and was confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church in Minneota, MN May 17, 1940. Arden attended country school in Lyon County, MN through 8th grade. When he left school, he remained on the farm to help with the family farming operation. Arden married Arlene Haukvik on June 28,1947 at the Albion Lutheran Church. In 1949 Arden and Arlene moved to Casa Grande, AZ, where he worked at 0. S. Stapley as a shop foreman. Their son, Lee Arden, was born in Casa Grande in 1952. They returned to Minnesota and moved to Hanska in 1953 where Arden became part owner of Peterson-Williams Trucking, later Reddeman-Williams Trucking, for 23 years. Arden and Arlene became members of Zion Lutheran Church in Hanska where he served on the Board of Trustees. He also served on the Hanska Village Council and was a member of the Hanska Volunteer Fire Department. In 1967 Arden and Arlene moved to St. James, MN, where he worked for Central Livestock Association buying and selling feeder cattle. He continued there until he began managing a cattle feedlot in Storden, MN. Following that Arden worked on road construction for 12 years before he retired. Arden and Arlene became members of First Lutheran Church in St. James. They enjoyed many bus trips and tours throughout the United States. Arden especially enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, gardening, playing cards and Bingo, shooting pool and bowling. Survivors include daughter-in-law Jeanette Williams of Waseca; three grandchildren Kari (Jon) Van Thuyne of Mankato, Katie (Jacob) Staloch of Janesville and Jacob Williams (Neely) of Good Thunder; eight great-grandchildren Taylor, Alexis, Alexandra, Sadie Lee, Quentin, Zane, Oliver and Camilla; two sisters, Audrey Peterson of Eden Prairie, and Maxine Sayler of Lakewood, CO; sister-in-law Fay Williams of St. James; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Leland and Mary Froehling of St. James, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents and grandparents, Arden was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene, sons, Sherman, who died in infancy and Lee Arden. He was also preceded in death by brothers Eugene Williams and Lyle Williams, sister Eunice Broughton, brothers-in-law Conrad Broughton, Phil Peterson and sister-in-law Janice Williams. Visitation 1 10:30 am - 11:30 am Saturday, February 15, 2020 First Lutheran Church, St. James 716 6th Ave. S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 11:30 am Saturday, February 15, 2020 First Lutheran Church, St. James 716 6th Ave. S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information 2:00 pm Saturday, October 23, 2021 Albion Lutheran Cemetery-St. James 10454 250th Ave. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081