Eileen Margaret (Dahl) Arvesen, age 95, died December 4, 2020, in Waseca, Minn. She was born on December 13, 1924, to Elvin and Marie (Jameson) Dahl in Spring Grove, Minn. Eileen was baptized at home, but confirmed and married at Highland Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Peterson, Minn.
Eileen grew up on the family farm and attended country school, often skiing to school on homemade skis in the winter. She graduated from Rushford High School and from St. Olaf College in 1946 with a degree in Home Economics Education. Her teaching career began in New Richland and later in Waseca.
She was an avid member of 4-H and was a member of the Norway Go-Getters Club winning a trip to the Minnesota State Fair for Clothing Construction in 1940. She loved teaching and taught many Waseca students how to sew on a button, iron a shirt, balance a checkbook and make chocolate chip cookies. Her Bachelor Living classes for boys were among the first in the state as she believed basic skills like these were important for everyone. She enjoyed talking to her former students and had a remarkable ability to remember not only the student but what they made in her class.
Eileen kept active after retirement, making numerous quilts for family members, at Grace Lutheran Church for graduating high school seniors, and for others in need of a warm blanket. She was active in Sons of Norway, Waseca Area Retired Educators, Quilters in Time Quilting Club, Grace Lutheran Church and LCW.
Eileen was preceded in death by her parents and her former husband Charles B. Arvesen. She is survived by her children: Ann Arvesen Gjelten of St. Paul, Minn., Kay (David) Erickson of Missoula, Mont., and Charles (Katie) Arvesen of Pine Springs, Minn.; her grandchildren: Arne Gjelten, Tina and Andy Erickson, Gretta, Ian, Tom and Ellie Arvesen; and her great-grandchild, Millie Erickson. She is also survived by her sister Audrey Dahl Fennie of Northfield, Minn., along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and her many friends, neighbors and students. We will miss her very much.
A memorial service will be held next year. We wish to thank the remarkable care givers at Latham Place for her wonderful care. Memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church and to the Grace Food Shelves.
In remembrance of Eileen and to mark her passing, Grace Lutheran Church will ring the church bell on Sunday, December 13 at 10 a.m. on what would have been her 96th birthday.
Arrangements are being completed by Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waseca, www.dennisfuneralhomes.com.