Edwards, Arlene Johnson Raveling (1921-2016)

EDWARDS, VAN VLEET, JOHNSON, GARBERDING, RAVELING, DOWNEY, LEE

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/14/2016 at 15:01:54

Arlene Johnson Raveling Edwards
March 13, 1921 ~ October 8, 2016

Arlene (Johnson-Raveling) Edwards, age 95, of Storm Lake, Iowa, and formerly of Rembrandt and Sioux Rapids, Iowa, died on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake.

A daughter of Percy and Clara Van Vleet of Early, Iowa, Arlene Katherine Van Vleet was born on March 13, 1921, in Sac City, Iowa. She grew up in Early and graduated from Early (Crestland) High School and then attended Wayne State Teachers College where she earned her teaching certificate. Subsequently, she earned a Bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista University. Arlene taught school in Rolfe and Storm Lake before retiring from the Rembrandt Consolidated School District where she taught 4th and 5th grades for twenty-six years.

On June 6, 1948, Arlene married Ralph Johnson of Storm Lake, Iowa. They were blessed with a son, Jon, and a daughter, Coleen. Arlene and Ralph farmed until he retired. Then, they moved to Rembrandt. Ralph passed away on December 30, 1980.

On June 1, 1984, Arlene married Raymond Raveling of Sioux Rapids, Iowa. They enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, visiting relatives and making new friends. Active in the Rembrandt Methodist Church and the First United Church in Sioux Rapids, Arlene continued to live in Sioux Rapids after Raymond’s death on January 8, 2002. On September 6, 2008, however, she married Kenneth Edwards of Storm Lake. They attended the Alta United Methodist Church. For several years, they wintered in Apache Junction, Arizona.

Arlene enjoyed playing cards, exercising, watching sports, fishing, and spending time with her family and friends. She was most recently a resident of the Methodist Manor along with her husband, Kenneth.

Surviving are her husband, Kenneth, of Storm Lake, Iowa; her son, Jon (Janet) Johnson, of Petersburg, Minnesota; her daughter, Coleen Garberding, of Sun City, Arizona; her stepchildren: Bradford (Sondi) Raveling, of Storm Lake, Iowa, Bruce (Diane) Edwards, also of Storm Lake, Iowa, Joan (Ed) Downey, of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Carol (Doug) Lee, of Knoxville, Tennessee; five grandchildren: Terry (Gailynn) Garberding, of Phoenix, Arizona, Jeffrey (Andrea) Garberding, of Parker, Colorado, Jenny (Neil) Downey, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Jason Johnson, of Cottonwood, Minnesota, and Jasmond (Taia) Johnson, of Salem, South Dakota; seventeen grandchildren; and twenty-six great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, her first two husbands, two brothers, a nephew, and a step-grandson.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 12, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will follow at the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake is overseeing the arrangements.

Copyright © 2016, Sliefert Funeral Homes

Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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