Arlene M. Lester

was born to Henry and Catherine (Sorenson) Medill on November 27, 1919 on a farm in Denver Township of Rock County, Minnesota where she was raised and attended country school. She then continued her education at Luverne High School in Luverne, Minnesota. After her graduation in 1937, she worked for area families. On September 17, 1941, Arlene was united in marriage to Darrell Lester on her parents' farm near Hardwick, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they lived in Magnolia, Minnesota. While Darrell was in the service, Arlene moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she lived with her sister and worked at the John Morrell Packing Plant. When her husband returned from the service, they moved back to Magnolia. After Darrell's death on November 15, 1994, Arlene continued to reside in Magnolia until June of 1997 when she sold her house and moved to Luverne. She resided in the Centennial Apartments where she enjoyed living in her "Penthouse". On November 19, 2009 Arlene passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Good Samaritan Society - Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne at the age of 89 years, 11 months and 22 days.

Arlene was a member of the Magnolia Methodist Church where she was also active in the United Methodist Women and Circle. She loved to play pinochle and was a member of a pinochle club. She enjoyed crocheting and she especially enjoyed cooking. She was proud of her faith which was very evident looking at her worn Bible.

She is lovingly remembered by her two children, Sandy Jacobson and her husband Jake of Tucson, Arizona, and Gene Lester and his wife Kathy of Rosemount, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Tracy Anderson and her husband Paul of Edina, Minnesota, Melissa Van Beusekom and her husband Jeremy of Loretto, Minnesota, and Darin Lester of Burnsville, Minnesota; a great-granddaughter, Olivia Van Beusekom; a sister, Marian Colbeck of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and a brother, Wayne Medill of Hardwick, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three brothers, Duward, Bob and Henry Medill; and five sisters, Etta Walsh, Gena Coty, Catherine Benson, Beatrice Medill, and Mildred DeBates.