Arlene C. Wilson

She had two brothers and one sister, older brothers Ken and Vernon and big sister Thelma. Arlene talked a lot about her life on the farm doing chores and taking care of the farm animals. During her childhood she lived in the towns of Dunseith and Calvin.

In 1940 her father a carpenter by trade built their farm house in Dunseith. It was a very modest dwelling with no indoor plumbing. Winters were very cold in North Dakota and life in the small home was difficult.

In 1941, during World War 2, her father Ivar and brother Vernon moved to Seattle to work in the ship yards. Her brother Ken was in the service during the war.

In 1942 Arlene, Thelma and their mother Clara sold the home in Dunseith and joined Ivar and Vernon in Seattle.

Arlene attended one year at Broadway High School in Seattle, before graduating from Ballard High in 1943. During that time she started attending the Evangelical Free Church in Ballard where she met her long time friend Edith.

After graduating from high school, Arlene worked at Boeing building Airplanes for the war with her sister Thelma.

In 1952 Arlene and Edith took a three month trip to Norway. They had a wonderful time and it was a trip that Arlene never forgot.

In 1954 Arlene was introduced to Jim Wilson by their friends. Arlene and Jim first met on a blind date.

Jim and Arlene fell in love and were married June 2 1956.

In 1954 Arlene took a job at Manning?s Caf? in Ballard where she was the pay roll clerk. She later became the office manager. She worked at Manning?s for 15 years.

In 1957 Virg was born.

In 1959 Edith and Sverre took Arlene and Jim to Cannon Beach. That started an annual tradition for them that lasted most all of their lives. Arlene loved the beach, and she was able to enjoy it one last time this last summer in 2006.

In 1960 Arlene and Jim bought their first home in Ballard.

In 1962 Jeff was born

And in 1963 Greg was born.

In 1966 Arlene and Jim bought a new house and moved to Edmonds.

1970 Arlene started working for the Edmonds School district as a lunch server.

Arlene loved to cook and she was always baking something; it was part of her Norwegian heritage. Almost every summer day she would take her bucket and go pick blackberries to bake a pie. At Christmas time it was cookies, fudge and Fruitcake.

She was the neighborhood ?KOOL AID? mom; all of the kids knew where the cookie drawer was at Arlene?s house.

The things she liked to do the most was to be at the beach on a summer day either laying in the sun or getting up early for a long walk with her favorite driftwood walking stick.

Because of the influence of her three sons she turned into quite the sports fan. She especially loved to watch Football. But she couldn?t watch her favorite teams play she said she ?got too nervous?.

Arlene was a very loving and happy person. She loved her Lord Jesus, her husband Jim and her family and friends very much. She always had just the right thing to say to make someone feel better no matter what the circumstance.

She would reach out to all those around her with her warm smile and friendly conversations. She was always concerned for others, so much so that we would kid her that if she didn?t have something to be concerned about she would make something up. This was probably why she was constantly praying for all her family and friends. And we all knew that if Arlene was praying God was listening.

Arlene taught us all so very much. She taught us about hard work she was always the first one working and the last she taught us to love unconditionally, she taught us about Gods love for us though all she did for others.

We will all miss Arlene, our Mother, our Mother in Law, our Grand Mother, our Aunt, our mentor and our friend. We will miss her and remember her always, until we meet with her again.