Arlene M. Svea was born on October 28, 1925, in Kerkhoven, Minnesota, the daughter of Bill and Blanche Larsen. She moved with her family to Benson in 1930. She was confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Benson. She graduated from Benson High School. She then moved to Washington D.C. and worked as a secretary for the federal government during the 1940s. She returned to Benson, Minnesota where she was united in marriage to Chester Svea. Together they shared almost 60 years of marriage. After their marriage Arlene worked as a secretary for West Central Trucking and later as a book keeper for the Benson High School and the Benson Hospital. She was a member of the Red Hat Ladies, the Benson V.F.W. Post #1403 Ladies Auxiliary, and was active in the Ladies' group at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ. Arlene had a passion for playing the piano, especially classical music. She loved to travel and they wintered in Ocala Florida for many years. Arlene was called fr0m this life on Monday March 05, 2012, at the Golden Living Center in Benson. She attained the age of 86 years, 4 months, and 6 days. She is survived by her husband Chester of Benson; her daughters, Joanne (Tim) Hanson of East Lansing Michigan, and Jill (William A.) Wargin of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; eight grandchildren; Brent Yates, Brooke Yates Bakken, Lauren Trimble, Loralee Deschare, Stephanie Vander Blooken, Mark Wargin, Eric Wargin, and Lisa Hartzfeld; 12 great grandchildren; two sisters, Wanda Christensen of Fergus Falls, and Carol (Charles) Martin of Pelican Rapids, and a brother William Larsen jr. She was preceded in death by her parents William and Blanche, a daughter Linda Winecoff in 1998, a son William Svea in 2010, a grand daughter Carrie Lin Bangsund in 1969, and a grand son John Yates.