Arlene Ann (Johnson) Howell, 89

Arlene Ann (Johnson) Howell, age 89, a life-long resident of Stokes Township, Roseau County, Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at LifeCare Medical Center in Roseau, Minnesota.

Arlene was born January 13, 1935, to Alvin Herbert Johnson and Viola Josephine (Peterson) Johnson, in Greenbush, Minnesota. She attended Badger High School, graduating in 1953. She had one brother Dennis L. Johnson, Roseau, Minnesota.

Arlene and Delbert Earl Howell were married October 18, 1953. They settled in Stokes Township. Delbert worked road construction and Arlene was a homemaker. In 1963, the family moved to Eugene, Oregon. Delbert worked construction, building colleges and many highways. In 1967, the family returned to Badger, Minnesota to purchase Alvin Johnson’s farm, which had been Arlene’s home as a child. Later, the Albertina Johnson’s farm was purchased. This was the beginning of Howell Farms, which is currently honoring the fifth generation of farming. Together with son Danny Howell, Delbert continued to farm until 2003, when the couple sold Howell Farm’s homestead to Arlene and Delbert’s grandson, Justin Howell.

After returning from Oregon, Arlene was employed several years at the Children’s Home in Roseau, caring for handicapped children.

For many years, Delbert and Arlene never missed a Saturday night waltzing at the Badger VFW. On many occasions, Arlene would yodel with the band.

Arlene taught her family that a lovingly prepared meal can show love just as well as a hug or a kind deed or act. She was delighted to see her grandchildren taking the same care to create their own traditions, whether for holidays with special foods or involving the warmth that comes from hosting friends and family.

Arlene was an excellent seamstress, sewing wedding dresses and prom dresses. Arlene could do nearly anything she tried: skiing behind the car all afternoon; playing the accordion, piano, and guitar; yodeling; award winning oil paintings and baking; cake decorating; quilting; sewing; making mittens; and gardening. She enjoyed her back yard; like a small park it was always filled with a large variety of birds and beautiful flowers.

This Erma Bombeck poem was posted on Arlene’s refrigerator that summed up her life, “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.”

Surviving Arlene are her two sons and one daughter: Danny (Pamela) Howell, Badger; Jayne Howell (Mark Anderson), Sauk Rapids; and Dale (Staci) Howell, Beltrami. She was a loving grandmother to five grandchildren: Talysia Gunderson, Roseau; Justin (Sara) Howell, Badger; Kristen (Quest) Tyler, Sauk Rapids; Lauren Howell, Coney Island, New York; and Dillon Howell, Badger. Also, a proud great-grandmother to: A.J. Gunderson, Roseau; Briggs Jenson, Badger; Easton Howell, Badger; Silas Howell, Badger; and Vera Tyler, Sauk Rapids.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband Delbert Earl Howell; by her son Todd Kevin Howell; and by her grandson Keith Allen Howell.

Helgeson Funeral Home