Arlene D. Bailey

Arlene D. Bailey, age 87 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 13, 2022, at Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck.

A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 17 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Marty Porter officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Sauk Centre. 

Visitation was from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

Arlene Delores Wiener was born Nov. 6, 1934, in Sauk Centre to parents Mathias “Matt” and Esther (Quade) Wiener. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. She graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1953. On Nov. 12, 1953, she married Donald John Bailey at Zion Lutheran church in Sauk Centre. After serving his time in the Army, Donald, Arlene, and Jeanne moved to Fairview Farm in Ashley Township. They farmed together for many years.  Arlene was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church.  She was involved in Ladies Aid, Rebekah’s Circle and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. In 1987, Arlene was a founding member of the Sauk Centre Area Historical Society.  She was a member for over 30 years and enjoyed doing research on the history of Sauk Centre and Stearns County. This included research for local author Ivy Hildebrand, who wrote “Sauk Centre: The Story of a Frontier Town,” and she proofread the book, “Tales From A Pioneer Town,” by Adrian Lee. She also gave tours of the Pioneer Cemetery in Sauk Centre. Arlene enjoyed cake decorating, calligraphy, perennial and rock gardens, antique collecting and playing the piano.  Other interests included loon counting for the State of Minnesota, theme planning for church Harvest Festivals, family geneology and organizing family reunions.

She is survived by her children, Jeanne Massoletti, Jeffrey (Brenda) Bailey, Suzanne (Stan) Shefveland, Julie (Allen) Monroe and Gwen Bailey (Wayne Bitz); son-in-law, Peter (Susan) Laing; grandchildren, Danielle (Tim) Kelm, Jeremy Smelter, Jared (Karlee) Bailey, Justine Bailey, Katie Monroe, Brenna Monroe, Noah (Keira) Bitz, Joshua Bitz and Savannah Studniski; great-grandchildren, Kylie, Davis and James Kelm, Rozlyn and Korbyn Bailey; brother, Dwayne “Skeeter” Weiner; in-laws, James (Gloria) Bailey, Jane Bailey, Barbara Wiegers and Shirley Weiner.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Bailey in 2009; daughter, Lisa Laing; parents, Mathias and Esther Wiener; infant grandson, Nathaneal Laing; granddaughter Laura Monroe; brothers, Arthur “Bud” Weiner and Merlin Weiner; sisters in-law, Glee Weiner, Alta Weiner, Lois Pischke and Martha Bailey; and brothers-in-law, Paul Pischke, Arthur Bailey, Haven Wiegers and David Bailey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church and Sauk Centre History Museum and Research Center.

Pallbearers will be Jeremy Smelter, Jared Bailey, Noah Bitz, Joshua Bitz, James Bailey Jr., and Glen Weiner. Crucifer will be Danielle Kelm. Honorary pallbearers will be Stan Shefveland, Allen Monroe, Peter Laing, Greg Marthaler, Eric Marthaler and members of Rebekah Circle.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.

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