Arlene Stephenson

Arlene Verna (Clauson) Stephenson passed away peacefully into her Heavenly home on May 13, 2023.

A service livestream will be available at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/lordoflifebismarck/live_videos

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, May 19th, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1143 N 26th St, Bismarck, ND.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 PM with a prayer service starting at 6:00 PM, on Thursday, May 18, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Family invites everyone to wear blue to the funeral and visitation, in honor of Arlene, as it was her favorite color.

Arlene was born July 1, 1930, the youngest daughter and the 13^th of 14 children born to Morgan and Olava Clauson of Pelican Rapids, MN. As a child she loved growing up on the farm and raising her 4H lambs.

She was confirmed and married in Grove Lake Church, just down the road from her family’s homestead. She married Milford “Miff” Stephenson on May 7, 1949. Born with a hole in her heart, she made medical history when she had open heart surgery while six months pregnant.

Miff’s work moved them first to Fargo, ND, and then to Valley City, ND where they lived for 18 years, built a house and raised their four children. She worked for First National Bank for many years, had a wide circle of friends, and she and Miff enjoyed going out dancing on Saturday nights.

Miff’s appointment as a State Dairy Inspector moved them to Bismarck in 1977. Here she worked at various banks, Dayton's, and the Bismarck Conventions and Visitors Center. She loved to go out walking and to have fun with “the girls” at water aerobics.

She and Miff stayed very active in Shrine activities and she enjoyed all the adventures they shared in their 1930 Model A and 1951 Jeepster with the car club the “Dusters”, until Miff passed away in 2012.

Arlene was truly a people person, always quick to laugh and have fun. She also loved to travel. She and Miff enjoyed many trips to the West Coast and Hawaii, one Hawaiian vacation in particular for their 60^th wedding anniversary where they renewed their wedding vows in a beautiful cliff-side ceremony.

Among those who will miss her dearly are her children, Andre, Bismarck; Bradley (Chris), Fargo; Claudia LaMontagne, Bismarck; and Darin, San Diego, CA; her adored grandchildren, Aaron LaMontagne and Ian (Abigail) LaMontagne, Bismarck; and Olivia (Cris) Hernandez, LaMarque, TX; her adorable great-grandchildren, Cecilia and Vincent LaMontagne, Bismarck; sister, Marlys Jennen, Elbow Lake, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Miff Stephenson and beloved son-in-law, Raymond LaMontagne.

We’ve lost a beautiful soul- a friend, a sister, an aunt, a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother- but we smile with delight as we know she is Home, and after joyfully embracing her Heavenly Father we’re sure the next voice she heard was Miff’s saying, “Put on your dancin’ shoes Mom, the music up here is FANTASTIC!”