In Memory of Dolores Arneson, Beloved Wife, Mother and Grandmother
My mom died last week. There are too many feelings to document, but what I can do right now is write her a proper obituary. There are many people that loved her, and many people that love her surviving family. There will be a service for both Dolores and Hank in January of 2022.
Arneson, Dolores Ann (Flavin), Excelsior, Minnesota, age 92
Born August 22, 1929 in Green Bay, WI. Died December 9, 2021 in Edina, MN
Survived by son James Arneson (Carrie), Madison, WI, grandchildren Tommy, Katie, and Bobby; daughter Jill Holter (Karl), Minnetonka, MN, grandchildren James, Asher, Carlton, Elsa, Sally, and Wesley. Also survived by nieces Nancy and Jane, and many great nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by beloved husband of 72 years, Henry Orvin Arneson; parents Edmund and Kathryn (O’Brien) Flavin, brother James Flavin, sister-in laws Lucille Flavin and Lorraine Tietzen, brother in law Carleton Arneson.
Dolores spent her young childhood in Green Bay, and was known in the neighborhood as the early riser that would ride her tricycle to friends’ houses at 6 a.m. to see if they could come out to play. She moved with her family to Minneapolis during the Great Depression while her father looked for work. Despite the hard years, she had many fond memories of her mother’s large family of siblings, surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. When Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in 1937, she took a nickel and her 8 year old self to the theater, bought a ticket, and stayed all day, watching the movie five times through.
In the summer of 1946, she worked as a secretary in Minneapolis at International Milling and met a young engineer, fresh from the war. They fell in love and a few months after she graduated from Marshall High School in Dinkytown (Minneapolis), Dolores and Hank were married, September 15, 1947. They spent the early years of their marriage working, and she had a successful career as an executive secretary. After many years of marriage, they built their dream home on Lake Minnewashta in 1960. In 1966, they adopted their son Jim, and the next year adopted their daughter Jill. Dolores retired from work to be a full-time home maker, and she really did make a happy home. Hank traveled for his work often, so she managed home, children, carpooling, sports, scouts, lawn mowing, snow shoveling, and the million other things she did to keep everyone cared for and loved.
There was no place Dolores would rather be than golfing with Hank. They were active members of Minnetonka Country Club for decades, until it closed. Years of family vacations to Naples and Bonita Springs, Florida helped them make the decision to build their retirement home in Bonita in 1993. Dolores also loved the game of tennis, learning it in her 50s, and with that she found a group of beloved women who were friends on and off the court. Gretchen, Pat, Verdell, Darlene, Elizabeth and so many more – Dolores loved the matches, drills, friendly games, lunches and birthday parties.
Dolores loved her nine grandchildren very much. Many happy summers on Lake Minnewashta, including the best Fourth of July celebrations in the world, were favorites with all of them. Annual trips to Florida to visit Bumpa and Dodo included golf, tennis, pool, beach, famous “Dodo Sandwiches” and so much more gave all the grandchildren a lifetime of memories.
These last two years without Hank left Dolores so very lonesome for him, and we are all grateful to know they are reunited on a heavenly golf course, together again and as much in love as ever.
Funeral arrangements are pending – there will be a service in January, 2022 and Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, MN. Memorials preferred to Little Hospice in Edina, MN. We are so grateful to the beautiful staff of caregivers at Little Hospice. Their gentle care through her transition was a comfort to both her and her family.