Arlene V. Klosterman, 81, Minot, died of cancer, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Arlene Victoria Johnson was born Oct. 2, 1927, in Landa to Melvin and Ethel (Lee) Johnson. She was baptized and confirmed at Mouse River Lutheran Church, where she was active in Hi League and helped play the piano and old organ for Sunday services.

Arlene attended Thrums #5 School in Starbuck Township, near Minot, for eight years and later graduated from Bottineau High School. Following graduation she attended summer school at Minot State Teachers College. That fall she taught school at Waterford School District, where she taught all grades except one, which was quite a challenge for a girl who was not quite 18. She attended Minot State the next summer and taught the following fall at Waterford School District.

One of Arlene's favorite stories to tell was how she met Earl Klosterman of Glenburn at a dance at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds Pavilion in Minot. Earl and Arlene married on Dec. 21, 1946, at Glendive, Mont. They made their home in Minot, where they raised six children, three boys and three girls. They attended Zion Lutheran Church, and later transferred to Bethel Free Lutheran Church, both in Minot.

Arlene was employed as an expanded food and nutrition assistant in Ward County for North Dakota State University before retiring. Arlene's husband, Earl, passed away Dec. 18, 2000.

Arlene always gave her husband, Earl, credit for helping with their children and chores, so she was able to do community activities, which she enjoyed. Arlene loved and enjoyed working with children. She started the "Sugar N' Spice" 4-H Club and was the club's leader for 15 years. She taught Sunday school for many years, first at Zion Lutheran Church and later at Bethel Free Lutheran Church. She and Earl were Junior League advisers at Zion Lutheran. She enjoyed working in the Mothers Club. She was a room mother for all of her children and one grandchild over the years at Sunnyside Elementary School. She held offices in the elementary through high school Parent-Teacher Associations.

She was a former member of the YWCA Board. She demonstrated lefse making the first two years at the Norsk Hostfest and was in charge of the girl's 4-H building the first two years at the North Dakota State Fair. Arlene loved her family. She enjoyed square dancing after the children were grown. She also enjoyed sewing, gardening, food preservation, Norwegian baking and her church and its activities.

achildren, Lee (Pam) Klosterman and Bruce (Janelle) Klosterman, all of Minot, Susan (Michael Buckley) Klosterman and Barbara Barr and her partner, Richard Marks, all of Salem, Ore., Patti (Wade) Whitson and David Klosterman, all of Minot; nine grandchildren, Erica Solem, Heather (Todd) Kraft, Neil Klosterman, Laurel Klosterman and her partner, De Etta Stevens, Paul Klosterman, Derek Hartl, Lee (Dustin) Torgerson, Erin Whitson and Brandon Klosterman; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Milton Johnson, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; sisters-in-law, Eunice Halling, Doris Christensen and Loretta Johnson, all of Minot, and Marjorie Johnson, Landa; one uncle, Leonard Lee, Landa; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; parents, Melvin and Ethel Johnson; brothers, Obert, Howard and Byron Johnson; and brothers-in-law, Ralph Christensen and Wayne Halling.

Funeral: Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at 11 a.m. in Bethel Free Lutheran Church, Minot.

Visitation: Today, Aug. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot,

Memorials: Memorials are preferred to The Alaska Mission, c/o Bethel Free Lutheran Church, 530-22nd Ave. NW, Minot, ND 58703, or to the Second Story, 13-1st Ave. SW, Minot, N.D. 58701.

Those wishing to sign the online guest register or share memories of Arlene may access the online obituaries at (www.thompsonlarson.com).