Arlene Finken

Arlene G. Finken, age 88 of Freeport, died peacefully in her sleep Friday, December 28, 2007 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 31 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Rev. Roger Klassen, OSB will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Goldenaires Senior Citizens will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Arlene Finken was born March 18, 1919 in St. Rosa, Minnesota to Ladislaus and Mary (Eiynck) Butkowski. On June 5, 1939 she married Ambrose Finken at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. Together they lived and farmed near Freeport until retiring in 1984 and moving to Upsala. Arlene also worked at Chick's Supper Club, Melrose Produce, Charlie's Café in Freeport and Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany for 13 years. She moved to Sacred Heart Manor in Freeport in 2000. Since 2004 she had resided at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids.She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Arlene enjoyed sewing, gardening, quilting, and reading.

Survivors include six children, Mildred (Charles) Voigt of St. Cloud, Irene (Michael) Schwinghammer of St. Nicholas, Rita (Henry) Sunder of St. Joseph, Ralph (Maureen) Finken of St. Joseph, Roger Finken of Monticello, and Elizabeth "Betty" (Steve) Kurr of Pierz; 19 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Alma Notch of Melrose and Hilda Caspers of Victoria; sisters-in-law, Lorraine and Edith Butkowski, both of Melrose, and Valeria Butkowski of Parker's Prairie.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ambrose Finken on August 23, 2006; grandson, Luke Frieler; brothers, George, Joesph, Arnold, Fr. Alto, Vernon, and Harold Butkowski; infant brother; and sister, Ernestine Finken.

Serving as casket bearers will be Brian Voigt, Shawn Frieler, Mark Finken, Glen Sunder, Todd Schwinghammer and Mike Schwinghammer, Jr. Cross bearer will be Lora Manthei, scripture bearer will be Lance Sunder, and gift bearers will be Lisa and Mike Spoden.