Arden Gordon Tuftin, age 97, of Whalan, Minn., passed away peacefully at his home on February 24, 2025, surrounded by his family. Born on March 14, 1927, to Andrew and Grace (Thoen) Tuftin, Arden was baptized and confirmed at Whalan Lutheran Church and grew up in Whalan. He attended country school at Whalan and high school at Lanesboro, Minn. With permission from his parents, Arden joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 during World War II. He served in the Pacific aboard the destroyer, USS Harwood. Following discharge from the Navy, Arden returned to Whalan and was united in marriage to Eva Moger on October 27, 1948. Together they operated a restaurant known as Thoen’s Hotel and Café in Lanesboro for three years. During this time, Arden attended trade school in La Crosse, Wis., becoming a tool and die maker/tool room machinist. After the arrival of two children, Steven and Marlys, the family moved to the Mankato, Minn., area for Arden’s job at Kato Engineering where he was employed for several years before returning to Whalan and starting his new job at Trane Company in La Crosse. He retired in 1988 with 28 years of service at Trane. Arden was a member of Whalan’s Erickson-Rose American Legion Post 637 for 76 years. He took great pride in serving as an honor guard when called upon and making sure American flags were displayed along Whalan’s bridge and Main Street on holidays and special occasions. Arden enjoyed playing softball with the Whalan team in his younger years, golfing, hunting, and most importantly, fishing with his friends over the years. He relished travels with Eva to Texas, Colorado, South Dakota, Washington and California where they enjoyed visiting family members and touring the area. In addition, a road trip with son Steve took him to the Montana river beds on a successful mission to collect agates that resulted in the final creation of beautiful pieces of jewelry.
Arden is survived by his wife Eva, daughter Marlys Tuftin, Whalan; brother-in-law LaVern (Ramona) Moger, Preston, Minn.; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, son Steven, sisters Ive Rogers, Esther (Joseph) O’Neil, and infant Ruth Eva Tuftin; uncle Roy (Lucille) Thoen, brothers-in-law Harold Moger and Clifford (Ann) Moger, sisters-in-law Pearl (Odell) Bue and Delores (Steven) Glynn, and other family members.
A funeral service for Arden will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Whalan Lutheran Church, Whalan, at 1 p.m., with Rev. Patricia Hinkie officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Whalan Lutheran Cemetery following the service. Lunch will be served at the Whalan Church Hall.
Hoff Funeral Home – Rushford is assisting with the arrangements. www.hofffuneral.com
A special thank you is extended to St. Croix Hospice care givers for their compassionate care and kindness as well as Arden’s family and friends for their visits and calls over the past year when he was mostly homebound. It was greatly appreciated.