Arlene Rossow

Arlene J. Rossow, 77, of Prior Lake, MN, passed away on January 10, 2025.  Her funeral service will be on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 11 am, with a visitation one hour before the service at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton, ND.  Burial will in Fairview Cemetery, Wahpeton.  René Hasbargen will officiate the service.

Arlene Joyce Rossow was born May 30, 1947, to Delmer and Adeline Rossow (Medenwaldt) in Breckenridge, Minnesota. Arlene was baptized and confirmed at the United Church of Christ, Hankinson, ND. She grew up on her parent’s farm near Hankinson, North Dakota, and attended grades 1-5 at Elma #3 and grades 6-12 at New Effington, South Dakota graduating High School in 1965.

Arlene attended North Dakota State School of Science, graduating in 1966 with an Advanced Steno Degree. Later in life, she attended evening classes at Inver Hills Community College, graduating in 1993 with an Associate Liberal Arts degree.

In June 1966 she began her career at the American Life & Casualty Insurance Company in Fargo North Dakota in accounting and later as a health and life insurance claims analyst.

She ventured on in January 1973 to Columbia, Missouri where she was employed as a secretary at the University of Missouri. In May 1974, Arlene moved to the Twin Cities where she became employed by Lockheed Martin – a national defense contractor (then Sperry Univac) as a secretary for 4 years. In late 1978 Arlene began her next career in the IT world there and retired from Lockheed Martin in December of 2009. Arlene always felt so thankful that she was never involved in any company layoffs in almost 45 years of employment.

In 1974, Arlene became a member of Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield, MN and in 2017 she transferred to the Prairie Community Church in Eden Prairie, MN after moving to her new residence in Prior Lake, MN.

Arlene was blessed by many dear friends through the years from North Dakota State School of Science, American Life Insurance and Lockheed Martin.

Arlene loved investigating and solving problems (usually using her computer), followed the daily news events, loved reading, listened to music, loved decorating her homes with her distinct eye for color loved her flowers in the summer, traveling, had an avid interest in cars and houses, loved to cook (a trait inherited from her mother) but most of all she loved to spend time with her family and close friends. Arlenes’ favorite travel destination was St. Pete Beach, Florida where she could sit next to the water.

In 2016 Arlene adopted her treasured cats, Truman and Trudy, whom she loved beyond measure.

Arelene’s main vice was the manner she drove her vehicles to work and anywhere else. Because she was always running late (due to trying to get too many things done before she left for her destination) she always tried to make up for the lateness with her car. She lost count of her traffic tickets over the years. After she retired, she stated that if there were two cars speeding on the same highway, they would stop her (this actually did happen).

Arlene was preceded in death by her dear parents, Delmer and Adeline Rossow; her dearest brother, Gene Rossow; her great-niece, Kaitlyn Rossow; aunts and uncles; cousins, Roger and Paul Buckhouse, Judy Boen, Keith and Jeff Rossow, Wesley Rossow, David Speral, James O’Bannon, Raymound Steinhoiff; and her keeshond dog Kaite.

Arlene is survived by her sister-in-law, Celia Rossow; niece, Tammy (Phil) Torborg, nephew, Gary Rossow; great-nephews, Aaron (Rachel) Codden, Jacob Torborg (Hannah Anderson), Jaxon Torborg, great nieces Christina Codden (TuAhn Tran), Karissa Torborg (Zach Harmon), Madelyn Rossow, Ophelia Harmon, Ellimia Tran, Mila Codden; as well as many cousins and dear friends.