Arlene Saugstad was born on this day in 1912. I first met her in 1978. She and her husband, Stan, were together at a gathering in a friend’s home – one of those where enough people attended that it was difficult to do much but stand in one place. A crowd encircling her stood laughing at the yarns she spun, one after another.

Arlene was involved in practically every event that occurred in Minot and seemed to know everyone in town and far beyond. She seldom missed a symphony concert, fund raiser or arts related activity in the city, and no good cause went without her enthusiastic support. Our paths began to cross more as each year passed.

As no doubt occurred for many others, I frequently received letters from Arlene requesting support for this charity or that arts-related organization. She included a hand-addressed and stamped return envelope for the contribution she expected. She wasn’t bashful about reminding me of her request if our paths crossed and she had not received a reply.

It was perhaps 30 years after our first meeting that we happened to sit together at a wedding reception for some mutual friends’ son. Well into her 90s by then, Arlene had lost Stan some years earlier. I likewise found myself to be single at the time. As often happens at receptions, we made conversation with those at the table over this topic or that while waiting for the signal to enjoy the buffet. All at the table commented how happy the newlyweds appeared in each other’s company. At some point, I turned to Arlene and asked if she ever thought about remarrying.

“What’s that?” she asked, as if not hearing my question.

I hollered over the din. “I said… would you like to get married again?”

“Oh, yes, YES!” she exclaimed, as if I had just proposed, then gave me a long hug. At that moment, the father of the groom stopped at our table with a camera to record those present, and asked what all the commotion was about. One of the others announced that I had just proposed to Arlene.

“Well then, we should get a photo of the lucky couple,” the groom’s father said. “Squeeze in a little closer,” he directed while winding his camera for the next shot. “Let’s make this something to remember.”

I whispered to Arlene that we should provide something for folks to talk about, and puckered up to give her a polite kiss on the lips, holding it for some length of time as the groom’s father fumbled with the camera until the flash finally went off.

Perhaps a month later I was recounting the event from the wedding with a small group when one of those in attendance piped up. “Oh, yes, I heard about that. In fact, Arleen just told us all about it the other day. She said you swiped the gum right out of her mouth!”

The Minot community organized a nice celebration for Arlene’s 100th birthday at the Taube Art Gallery in May, 2012. It was a fitting place to pay tribute in light of her many decades of dedication to Minot’s arts community. As Rita and I arrived for the event, Arlene sat in what appeared a queen’s thrown perched on an elevated platform. We joined a line of folks waiting patiently to wish her happy birthday. When our turn came to approach Her Majesty, it was she who first took the initiative to pucker up this time, then leaned toward me.

“What’s this,” she asked as I handed her a gift-wrapped five-stick pack of Wrigley’s gum, complete with tiny bow.

“Oh no you don’t. Not this time,” I said, before giving her a peck on the cheek. Arlene smiled as she often did. She was truly Minot’s one-of-a-kind Queen. Happy Birthday, Arlene.

Sommers is a retired Minot orthodontist, violinist with the Minot Symphony and author of the book, “Retirement? You Can’t HANDLE the Truth!”