Arlene Bly

Arlene Anna (Hovde) Bly, age 94, of McIntosh, MN, passed away on Wednesday, October 1st, at McIntosh Senior Living. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 13th, at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with the Rev. Pam Thorson officiating. Interment will be in Salem Lutheran Cemetery, McIntosh. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Monday (October 13th) at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of McIntosh and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

She was born May 15, 1931 to Norwegian immigrant parents Arne and Anne (Haugen) Hovde in Walker, MN, the second youngest of ten children. Five brothers and two sisters survived childhood. Arlene was baptized, confirmed, and married at Hope Lutheran Church in Walker. She married Mahlon Bly Jr. on August 16, 1952 and raised six sons, Leslie (Cindy), Calvin (Grace), Clifford (Nicki), Victor (Elena), Paul (Rose), Russell (Dawn) and Foreign Exchange Student Fritz Weibel (Ilona) of Switzerland. Daughter Ellen Arlene passed in infancy in 1958 of SIDS.

Arlene spent her early married life as a farm wife and homemaker, mothering her growing boys. She was a great cook and a lefse maker extraordinaire. Salem Lutheran Church in McIntosh was central to her life. There, Arlene taught Sunday School and Release Time, quilted with the church ladies, was active in Christian Women, and served in numerous other roles. As the boys grew older, Arlene was employed at Variety Village in McIntosh and later did house cleaning. She also worked at Signals and Wireless, NPR-affiliated catalogue stores, when Mahlon's job at the State FmHA Office briefly brought them to St. Paul, MN. Arlene and Mahlon enjoyed many years square dancing, driving their Morgan horses, and traveling. Mahlon passed away in 2002. Even after Mahlon’s passing, Arlene enjoyed traveling to see her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids across the United States and internationally. An avid crafter, she ensured all of her graduating grandchildren and great children had an afghan to leave home.

Arlene suffered a massive stroke in April 2022, leaving her partially paralyzed and unable to speak. In spite of her disabilities, she remained cheerful. She always greeted visitors with an enthusiastic smile at McIntosh Senior Living.

Her friends and family will remember Arlene's warmth and welcome when visiting her at home, with its well-stocked cookie jar and proudly displayed photographs of her sons, grand- and great-grandchildren. She remembered everyone’s birthday with a card and hand-written note, maybe sharing about her garden or reminding you to go to church. She would joyfully attend every family event, milestone, and special occasion she could. In her quiet daily devotions and prayers for her loved ones, Arlene’s steadfast Christian faith underscored her whole life.

Arlene is survived by her five sons and six daughters-in-law and foreign exchange son and daughter-in-law; 16 grandchildren: Erin & Louie Roggenkamp, Travis & Stacy Bly, Galen & Kaari Bly, Matt & Bre Bly, Jamie & Nicole Bly, Justin & Lanis Bly, Nicholas Bly, Kathryn & Chris West, Jonathan Bly, Benjamin Bly, Kendra Bly & Chris Carter, Jacob Bly, Nathan Bly, Natalie & Dustin Wenz, Robin Bly & Alex Cruze, David Bly, Adam & Alena Weibel, Ann, Anna, and Jakob Weibel; and 30 great grandchildren: Ellen & Daniel Marx, Jacob Teiken & Anna Jones, Emma Teiken, and Axton Roggenkamp; Brianna & Justin Bellefeuille, William Bly, Sydney & Logan Burhans, and Sofia Arlene Bly; Lathe, Laird, and Loic Bly; Brielle and Silas Bly; Patrick, Kellen, and Ella Bly; Dakota, Victoria, and McKenna Bly; Arthur Bly; Mikayla, William, and Savannah West; Allen Bly; Effy and Ezlynn Carter; Alice, Charles, and Lawrence Wenz; and Anders Cruze.

Additionally, she is survived by one sister, Signe Pederson, one sister-in-law, Janice Corrick, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Mahlon, son Paul Alan, infant daughter Ellen Arlene, granddaughter Meagan, parents, brothers Arthur, Alfred, Torfinn, Erling, Paul, Sigrud, Martin, and sister Mildred.