Arlene B. Keyes

Arlene Benson Keyes, age 73 Clark, widow of Wayne Keyes, died Thursday morning in the Golden Living Center at Clark after a brief illness due to a brain tumor. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 10:30 AM in the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark with the Reverend Robin Schaunaman officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. The organist will be Rosella Hanson with the congregation singing "Onward Christian Soldiers". Special music will be presented by John & Tammy Ragan singing "Away in the Manager" and "I Can Only Imagine". Other special music will sung by Wendy Christman singing "One Day At a Time" and "Put Your Hand in the Hand". Arlene's son, Larry, will sing "How Great Thou Art". Honorary casketbearers will be members of Rotary International. Active casketbearers will be her grandsons. Visitation will be held on Friday from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and after 9 AM on Saturday at the Church. She was born on September 20, 1933 at Clark, the daughter of John and Mabel (Hauge) Benson. She attended country school northwest of Clark and graduated from Clark High School. On March 27, 1951 she was united in marriage to Wayne Keyes at Clark. The couple lived and farmed southwest of Henry for three years. In 1968 she began employment with the Midland National Life Insurance Company in Watertown while Wayne managed the Clark Lanes. She worked at Midland until 1977. In 1977 she began work at Chef-Reddy Foods which later became McCain Foods. In 1980 they purchased the Clark Lanes. She worked at Chef-Reddy until 1983. Wayne died on February 18, 1989 and Arlene continued operating Clark Lanes until 1994. She has continued to make her home in Clark, living in the City View Apartments until entering the living center in June of this year. She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark and was active in its women's groups. She was a proud member of the Clark Rotary Club, having served as its first female president and was also a Paul Harris Fellow. Arlene spent countless hours working with various Rotary projects including the Little Fellow's Grave and even sewing vests for the local members to wear while working at community events. She also enjoyed playing cards, especially bridge. Arlene loved crafts, whether it was dough art, drawing, painting or any other handiwork. Another passion of hers was sewing: she was a wonderful seamstress; Arlene made everything from swimming suits to drapes! She also enjoyed knitting, cooking, entertaining and gardening, both flowers and raising vegetables. Second to none though was her enjoyment of spending time at the home at Lake Kampeska, especially the 4th of July, with her family. The community and neighbors here in Clark were all very special to her. Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Larry Keyes and wife Sandra of Watertown, Marcia Hamner and husband Rae of Graceville, MN and Vickie Poston and husband Tom of Fayetteville, NC, 6 grandsons, Todd, Troy and Brent Keyes, Justin and Corey Stanley and Jarrod Poston, 2 granddaughters, Kimberly Samaniego and Kristina Poston; 8 great-grandchildren, Lauren, Lucy, Isabella, Keira and Taylor Keyes, Olivia and Ashley Stanley and Avianna Samaniego. She also leaves sisters, Arlis Fox and husband Joe of Watertown and Karen Ovre and husband Johnnie of Harrisburg, SD. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, a sister in infancy, Marlis, an aunt, Bernella Nordhus and a nephew, Steven Noonan. email condolences at www.furnessfuneralhome.com