Arlene Marcella Hagen

Arlene Marcella (Hudson) Hagen, 101, of St. James, died June 27, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society in St. James.

Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at Albion Lutheran Church with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Albion Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in St. James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Arlene was born on August 27, 1921, as the first child to Thomas and Hilma Hudson in Albion Township, Brown County, MN. Soon after, her siblings arrived: Leila “Lee,” Betty, Donna, and Richard “Dick.” Arlene loved being the eldest and caring for her siblings. At age 11, Arlene tragically lost her father and assumed great responsibility during the following years as she helped her mother raise her siblings and manage their farmstead.

Arlene attended the Godahl country school where she met Stanley Hagen by throwing a snowball squarely at his face. Despite their frosty introduction, love blossomed and they later began dating. Arlene graduated from St. James high school in 1940. She married the love of her life, Stanley, on November 30, 1947, when he returned from serving active duty in Germany and France during World War II.

Stanley and Arlene settled in her childhood home and began working the farmstead where they spent the next 45 years farming and raising their sons, Steve and Mark. Arlene was a faithful servant of the Lord having been a lifelong member of the congregation of Albion Lutheran Church. She participated in quilting, baking, and many other church activities. She also took pride in her community and worked at the Godahl Mercantile store. Arlene was the family matriarch who loved her family dearly. She had loving relationships with her mother, siblings, husband, sons, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and large extended family.

Arlene is survived by her sons, Steve (Chris) and Mark; sister-in-law, Marilyn Hudson; grandchildren, Jessica, Cara (Jeffrey), Ian (Lonna), Adam (Paige), and Luke (Chrissy); and several great grandchildren.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley; siblings, Betty (Russell) Knudson, Leila Anderson, Donna (Paul) Schmidt, and Dick Hudson; and daughter-in-law, Fritzi Hagen.