Arlene Hargrave

Funeral services for Arlene Mae Hargrave, 94, of Dickens, will take place 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at United Methodist Church, in Dickens. Pastor Donna Gray will officiate the service. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Internment will be conducted at the Dickens Cemetery. She passed away Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at her home.

Arlene, the daughter of Fred and Elsie (Jones) Flack, was born on Sept. 8, 1930, at the farm of her aunt and uncle, Almeda and Melvin Smith, west of Spencer. Her childhood years were spent in the Ayrshire, Armstrong, Arnolds Park, Spirit Lake and Dickens area. She started school in Ayrshire and graduated in 1948 from Lake Center after her parents moved back to the Flack family farm north of Dickens.

Arlene was baptized at the Armstrong Methodist Church. She joined the Armstrong Methodist Church shortly before moving to Dickens.

Arlene first met Bill Hargrave at her cousin, Ardis Smith’s birthday. She later met Bill again after she moved back to Dickens. Bill and Arlene were married on Sept. 17, 1950, at the Dickens United Methodist Church. They spent their married life on the Hargrave family farm south of Dickens, raising their four children.

Bill and Arlene loved to garden and had beautiful flower gardens. Arlene’s favorite flower was peonies.

Arlene was a member of the Dickens United Methodist Church, Dickens UMW, Dickens Community Club, Dickens Cemetery Club, Iowa Lakes Saddle Club, Iowa and Minnesota Chuckwaggon Association, Card Club and Square Dancing. Arlene love to embroider and cook. She loved baking pies on Sundays. Also, making Angel Food cakes for birthdays and homemade chicken noddle soup for Christmas dinner. Most of all, Arlene loved spending time with her family.

After graduating from High School, Arlene worked at the Spencer Hospital. She worked until she got married in 1950. She then returned to work at the hospital when her third child was small and worked there for 30-plus years.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her grandson, Andrew Hargrave; her parents; brother, Frank Flack and sisters: Betty Bang, Lillian Whalen and Marie Hyde.

Left to cherish her family are her four children: Nita (Martin) Richards of Omaha, Nebraska, David (Diane) Hargrave of Dickens, Liz (Curt) Worsfold of Blair, Nebraska, and Thomas (Lisa) Hargrave of Spencer; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; her brother, Roscoe Flack; sisters: Fran Mortenson and Linda (Lyle) Kenobbie; many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Following the graveside service, everyone is invited to the Dickens Community Center for a time of fellowship and lunch.

Warner Funeral Home in Spencer is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent at www.warnerfuneralhome.com.