Obituary of Arlene Matson

Arlene went to meet the Lord peacefully in her sleep Tuesday May 29th, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, where family shared with her stories and loving memories that she had blessed them with. She was born June 12, 1937, the fifth of six children to Elmer and Lillian Brown in Big Lake, MN. She spent her childhood on the family farm on Ann Lake, where she accepted the Lord as her Savior at age seven. She attended country school for grades 1-6, grade 7 she went to Big Lake High School. When she was 12 years old her family moved to Anoka, where she walked to school and later graduated from Anoka High School in June 1955. After graduation she worked in the city as a secretary, and attended Northwestern Bible College for one year. Arlene met Arvel Matson of Dalbo and after three years, the two were united in marriage March 29th, 1958. To this union three children were born Tami, Jeff, and Jill. They made their home in Fridley for eight years, and then moved to Cambridge in 1967. She worked at Control Data for two years, and then worked as the counselors' secretary at Cambridge High School for 22 years where she loved to interact with the students. Arlene enjoyed spending time at the cabin with the family, swimming, fishing, snowmobiling, and collecting antiques. She loved singing in the church choir, gardening and her red geraniums, she could be found at many sporting events watching her children compete through high school and college. She later was limited in her strength and mobility, but loved to get around seeing the yard and neighborhood on her golf cart or scooter. She is preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Lillian Brown. She is survived by her husband Arvel of Cambridge; children Tami (Arnie) Erickson of Grandy, Jeff Matson of Cambridge (and finance Tina Schumcher) of Blaine, and Jill Matson of Cambridge; grandchildren Andrea and Kimberly Erickson of Grandy; sisters Betty (Larry) Routt of La Habra, CA, Elaine Hecker of Plymouth; brothers Dwight (Marion) Brown of Hastings, Gene (Julie) Brown of Champlin, and Elwyn (Thelma) Brown of Columbia Heights; sisters-in-law Verona Matson and Ardene Matson both of Columbia Heights.