Arlene Watland

Arlene Mavis Watland, 90, Richardton, formerly of Antler and Mohall, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at a Richardton care center.

She was born near Fosston, Minn., on Nov. 27, 1924, the same day as the first Macy’s Day Parade, to David and Laura (Swenson) Wiberg. She was raised in Fosston and graduated from Fosston High School. She received her B.S. in elementary education from Moorhead (Minnesota) State University.

Arlene married Roy Edward Watland June 28, 1958, in Fosston. Arlene taught school for 30 years in various locations including East Grand Forks, rural Fosston, Tracy and Detroit Lakes, all in Minnesota, and in Fargo and Antler. She retired from teaching in 1985. In addition to teaching, Arlene worked alongside Roy in the operation of their farm by helping with milking cows, haying, gardening and canning. In their retirement years, they enjoyed traveling on numerous bus tours. Roy died June 9, 1994. Following Roy’s death, she moved to Mohall, then to Wilton in 2001, Bismarck in 2006 and to Richardton in January 2015.

Arlene attended Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, rural Antler, and was a member of the Willing Workers. She was a member of the Borderline Homemakers Club in Antler, senior citizens groups in Antler, Mohall and Wilton, and served as an Antler 4-H leader.

Following her retirement from teaching, she took up the hobby of painting pictures. She was a seamstress and made numerous articles of the clothing for herself and her daughter. She also contributed to the making of the North Dakota quilt. Arlene will be remembered for her cooking and baking, especially her buns and butterhorns, lefse, lemon pie and her English toffee candy at Christmas time.

Family: daughter, Ann (Joel) Middaugh, Wilton; grandson, Nathan Middaugh, Warrenton, Mo.; brother-in-law, Bert Jespersen, Bismarck; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arlene was preceded in death by: her parents; husband; sisters, Doris Erickson and Idella Bright; and brother, Gerald Wiberg.

Funeral: 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, rural Antler.

Burial: in the spring in Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church Cemetery, rural Antler.

Family service: 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20, at Brose Funeral Home, Mohall.

Visitation: Friday, noon to 5 p.m., at the funeral home.