Mavis Arneson

Mavis Arneson, age 88, of Decorah, Iowa died on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Wellington Place in Decorah, IA.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the Big Canoe Lutheran Church with Rev. Kurt Bockoven presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.Visitation will be on Friday, March 16, 2018 from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue in Decorah and also after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Saturday morning.Mavis Lillian Bergrud was born on July 25, 1929 to Albert and Lennie (Tollefsrud) Bergrud in Spring Grove, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. She attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1948. On December 18, 1948, she married Earl Arneson at Trinity Lutheran Church. Together, they raised their five children and farmed near Highlandville for nearly 50 years. Mavis also worked at Cenex in Spring Grove, where she enjoyed conversing in Norwegian with her old high school cronies. Mavis was a member of Big Canoe Lutheran Church where she was active in the Rebecca Circle and Ladies' Aid. She sang in the church choir and also sang for numerous weddings and funerals. She spent many hours tending to her flower gardens as well as sewing, baking and making lefse.Mavis is survived by her five children: Alfred (Mary) Arneson of Decorah, Steven Arneson (friend Tom) of Highlandville, Ross Arneson (friend Sue) of Highlandville, Laurie (Steven) Emery of Highlandville and LuAnn (Walter) Armstrong of Ames; eleven grandchildren: Shannon (Steve) Spalla, Earl (RaeAnn) Arneson, Amber Burja (friend Tom), Jessie Arneson, Julia (Buck) Towne, Jennifer (Adam) Bair, Jodi (Paul) Gray, Jillian Emery (friend Tyler) , Albert Emery (friend Carlee), Allison (Alex) Schlader and Drew Armstrong (friend Allie); and 16 great-grandchildren: Taylor, Bailey, Jack, James, Alex, Kennedi, Haylie, Peyton, Hunter, Emmet, Ruby, Henry, Ella, Raymond, Earland and Reese.Mavis was preceded in death by her parents, Albert & Lennie; her husband, Earl and his parents, Alfred & Julia; daughter-in-law, Sue and great-granddaughters, Avery and Aiden. With Mavis' passing, comes the end of that generation as she was preceded in death by her siblings & spouses: brother, Archie & Lucille, sisters - Tinka & Gilman, Hazel & Reuben, Gynith & Maynard, Orpha & Iver/Lee and Wanda & Eldie as well as Earl's sister & spouse, Altha Jean & Hilary. Mavis was loved and will be dearly missed by many.