Arlene Marie Stene

Arlene Marie Stene passed away on October 18, 2022 at Homestead Hospice in Owatonna, MN.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 29 at 2pm at the Emmons Lutheran Church in Emmons, MN.  A visitation will be held on Friday, October 28 from 4-6 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea, MN, along with 1 hour before the service on Saturday.  Pastor Ryan Henkel will be officiating.

Arlene Marie Stene was born on April 22nd, 1936 to Walter and Dora (Hamen) Rusche on the family farm near Bancroft, SD. She was baptized on May 17th, 1936 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bancroft, SD where she was also later confirmed in July 1950. She attended school at Bancroft and graduated from High School in 1954. She went on to attend college at Madison, SD and earned a Teaching Degree. She taught in South Dakota for 2 years prior to moving to Winnebago, MN where she taught for 5 more years. There she met her husband Milton Stene and they were married on Dec. 29th, 1963 at Emmons Lutheran Church.

They began farming on the home farm near Emmons, MN and raised their family there. Arlene was an active partner in helping Milton farm and raise livestock for many years. She and Milton loved to travel and enjoyed many family vacations and trips with the children and spending time with their grandchildren and watching them grow over the years. Arlene loved to garden, loved to bake and especially loved to quilt and sew. Over the years she made countless quilts for her children and 12 grandchildren for birthdays, graduations, weddings and many special occasions. Arlene was actively involved in the Emmons Lutheran Church including circles, ladies-aid and volunteering to make quilts for the church for many years. Arlene resided on the family farm until 2014 when she moved to Mills Harbor in Lake Mills, IA.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband Milton in 2010, her parents, sister Amy Rusche, brother Arden Rusche and three brothers-in-law Marlin Stene, Bert Ryberg, and Harland Yates, five sisters-in-law Norma Stene, Gen Stene, Viola Ryberg, Gladys Yates, Gertrude Rusche.

She is survived by her 4 children, Diane (Charles) Larson of Owatonna, MN; Joanne (Timothy) Larson of Medford, MN; Carol (Chad) Ebel of Lee’s Summit, MO; Mark (Katie) Stene of Lake Mills, IA; 12 grandchildren, Lauren Larson (Spenser Diekmann), Samantha Larson (Tyler Brigham), Cassandra Larson, Gregory Larson (Jordyn Stadler), Katelyn Larson, Daniel (Andrea) Larson, Mariah Larson, Holly Larson, Lynn Larson, Tony (Ashley) Ebel, Nicole (Luke) Thayer, Carmen Stene; two great-grandchildren, Henry Larson and Quinn Larson; two brothers Earl (Bonnie) Rusche of Bancroft, SD, Herb (Marie) Rusche of Bancroft, SD; one sister Mary Ellen Bullert of Glencoe, MN, and many nieces, nephews and friends.