Helen Rosella (Gustafson) Arneson

Helen R. Arneson, of Montevideo, died on Saturday, May 1, 2004 at the Luther Haven Nursing Home at the age of 81.  Interment will be in the Palm Springs Mausoleum in Palm Springs, CA.

Helen Rosella (Gustafson) Arneson was born on July 31, 1922 in Montevideo, MN top Alfred and Alice (Nathilda) Gustafson.  She was baptized and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church and graduated from Montevideo High School.  She moved to Portland, OR during World War II, where she worked on war ships and was one of the original “Rosie The Riveter’s”.  On October 1, 1950 she was united in marriage to Sivert Arneson at Salem Lutheran Church. They farmed near Montevideo and then moved to a farm near Milan, MN, where they farmed for 16 years before moving into Montevideo. While in Milan she belonged to Kviteseid Lutheran Church, where she was Superintendent of Sunday School, a choir member and was active in it’s women’s groups.  When they moved to Montevideo, she again became a member of Salem Lutheran Church and was active on the St. Lucia Committee, it’s women’s groups and helped out whenever an extra hand was needed.  She was also a local Red Cross volunteer coordinator. She enjoyed her family, friends, quilting, crocheting, gardening, baking, sewing and lived to help out.  She has been a resident of the Luther Haven Nursing Home for the past 5 years.

She is survived by a daughter, Renae Stahl of Palm Desert, CA; a granddaughter, Madeline Stahl; a sister, Adeline; sisters-in law: Ella Miller of Appleton, MN  and Goodie Arneson of Madison, MN; as well as by several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Sivert in 2002.