Arlene Valborg Hamre, 86, Beltrami, MN, passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2015 and is now at rest in God's arms.

Arlene was born October 8, 1928 to Soren and Anna Smith, Nielsville, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Nielsville, MN. She attended District 19 rural school, Climax High School, and Moorhead Teachers College. Upon completion of college, she taught school for three years at Strickler School, Euclid, MN; Miller School, Crookston, MN; and Belmont Consolidated School, Buxton, ND respectively. She was the fourth child of seven siblings: Norris Smith, Mesa, AZ; Sidney (Lillian) Smith, Crookston, MN; Dagmar Larson, Crookston, MN; Shirley Anderson, Hopkins, MN; Curtis (Bonnie) Smith, Bemidji, MN; and Rose Marie (Richard) Bakken, Princeton, MN.

Arlene married Rolland Hamre on July 22, 1950 at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Nielsville. They lived on the Hamre homestead, 6 miles west of Beltrami, throughout their married lives. They were members of Scandia Lutheran Church, rural Beltrami, and then became members of Trinity Lutheran Church of Beltrami. Arlene was active in Bible Study, served as Congregational president and other offices, Women of the ELCA, Quilters, and helped serve at many events.

Arlene was a busy farm wife and enjoyed gardening and yard work, canning and baking. She also did the bookkeeping and paperwork for the farm. She was an avid reader, flower gardener, quilter (making quilts for her children, grandchildren, and missions). She was a long-time member of the Beltrami Garden Club and the Nielsville area birthday club. Arlene was a loving mother to six children: Steve (Jane) Hamre, Beltrami, MN; Valerie (Lynn) Sulerud, Cambridge, MN; Nancy Hamre, Duluth, MN; Rory (Barb) Hamre, Beltrami, MN; Marcia (Dale) Schoenborn, Beltrami, MN; Marla (Paul) Swenson, Fertile, MN. She adored her 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Arlene will be remembered for her example of a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend and caregiver. She remembered birthdays, anniversaries and other special events with cards and loving letters. She kept a special calendar with these dates and looked at it every day, remembering those she loved. Their children will always remember hearing their parents early in the morning having devotions and praying together at the kitchen table before they began their day. Their home was always a welcoming place for friends, neighbors and relatives, having coffee and baking available at a moment's notice. Rolland and Arlene housed many guests from near and far. They made lifelong friends wherever they traveled. Arlene was preceded in death by her husband Rolland, her parents, Soren and Anna Smith and brother Sidney Smith.

The family would like to thank Dr. Bosun Fashoro for his kindness and care of Arlene. And to the staff at Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile, MN, who loved and cared for Arlene for two years.

Memorials are preferred to: Fair Meadow Foundation, PO Box 8, Fertile, MN 56540

Memorial Service: 10:30AM Saturday, September 5, 2015, at Trinity
Lutheran Church, Beltrami, MN.

Visitation: 5-7 PM with a Prayer Service at 6:30 PM on Friday, September 4, 2015, in the church.

Burial: Fairview Cemetery, rural Beltrami, MN.