Arlene Imogene Williams

Arlene Williams passed away on Sunday, December 23, 2018 at Pleasant View Good Samaritan Society in St. James. Arlene Imogene Haukvik was born July 27, 1924 on the family farm in Albin Township, Brown County, Minnesota to parents Henry and Mildred (Frederickson) Haukvik. She was baptized and confirmed at Albion Lutheran Church in rural St. James. She belonged to several youth groups and organizations, sang in the choir, and served as president of the Luther League at Albion Church. Arlene attended Brown County District 26 School through the 8th grade and graduated from St. James High School in 1942. After graduation she remained on the farm to help with many facets of the family farming operation following her brothers deployment into the Army during World War II. In the 1940s, Arlene traveled to Camp White at Medford, OR and Camp Adair at Eugene, OR to see where her brother trained with the 361st Infantry Division. In 1945-46, while living in California, Arlene worked at Northrop Aircraft in Los Angeles. Arlene returned to Minnesota and married Arden Williams on June 28, 1947 at Albion Lutheran Church. Their son Sherman was born in St. James in 1948. Arlene and Arden moved to Casa Grande, AZ in 1949, where she worked at H.H. Briggs Jewelry and Valley National Bank. Their son, Lee Arden, was born in Casa Grande in 1952. They returned to Minnesota and moved to Hanska in 1954. Arlene and Arden became members of Zion Lutheran Church in Hanska where she taught Bible School. In 1967 Arlene and Arden moved to St. James where she worked at Jakes Pizza and also demonstrated food products at local grocery stores. Arlene was an avid bowler and for many years bowled in state and national tournaments. Arlene and Arden enjoyed many bus trips and tours throughout the United States. They also enjoyed playing Bingo. Arlene loved flags and eagles. She rarely left home without a flag pin on her lapel. Arlene cherished time spent with her family and especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband Arden of St. James, daughter-in-law Jeanette Williams of Waseca, grandchildren; Kari (Jon) VanThuyne of Mankato, Katie (Jacob) Staloch of Janesville and Jacob Williams (Neely Prenzlow) of Good Thunder, 8 great-grandchildren; Taylor, Alexis, Alexandra, Sadie Lee, Quentin, Zane, Oliver and Camilla, brother Leland (Mary) Froehling of St. James and sisters-in-law Fay Williams of St. James, Audrey Peterson of Eden Prairie, Maxine Sayler of Lakewood, CO, many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents, grandparents and brother, Floyd, who was killed in WWII, Arlene was preceded in death by her sons, Sherman (who died in infancy) and Lee Arden, brothers-in-law Conrad Broughton, Phil Peterson, Eugene and Lyle Williams and sisters-in-law Janice Williams and Eunice Broughton. Visitation 1 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Saturday, December 29, 2018 First Lutheran Church, St. James 716 6th Ave. S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 2:00 pm Saturday, December 29, 2018 First Lutheran Church, St. James 716 6th Ave. S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Albion Lutheran Cemetery-St. James 10454 250th Ave. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 At a later date.