Arleen Hamburg Browen, 92, passed away peacefully on May 26th, 2018, at Dougherty Hospice
House in Sioux Falls, SD.
Funeral services for Arleen will take place at Trinity Baptist Church in Sioux Falls on
Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 11:00am with a luncheon to follow.
Arleen Van Roekel was born on June 11th, 1925, to Henry and Johanna Van Roekel in Edgerton, MN. The family moved to Corsica SD where Arleen grew up and graduated from Corsica High School. She spent one year in college at Springfield, SD where she earned her Elementary Teaching Certificate. She married Melvin Hamburg on December 26, 1946. Mel and Arleen had three sons, Larry, Lowell and Randy and farmed near Corsica. They eventually moved to town where they owned and ran the Corsica Café.
In 1971, the family moved to Sioux Falls, where Mel died within the year of pancreatic cancer. At that time, the older boys, Lowell and Larry, had begun their own working lives and families. Arleen was working as a waitress at Perkins in Sioux Falls, to support herself and her youngest son, Randy, who was 14. Arleen worked at Perkins for 20years. She also worked at Becky’s Hallmark at the Western Mall and she cleaned apartments at Western Park and Trail Ridge until age 80. She became a resident at Trail Ridge in 2008.
In 1974, Arleen married Lawrence Browen of Sioux Falls. They were members of Trinity Baptist Church where Arleen was a very active member and volunteer. She also volunteered at the North American Baptist Seminary for many years. Arleen opened her heart to Lawrence’s five children and welcomed all of their children, Lawrance’s grandchildren, as her own.
Arleen was always busy and active. She loved to clean, loved to walk, loved to engage with people. She took great pride in her home, in her families, and her appearance. She wore her ‘bling’ until the last few days of her life. She always had a sense of fun and joy that she brought to all the people around her.
Arleen is survived by her sons, Lowell of San Diego, and Randy (Liz) of Rapid City, SD, brother Willis (Goldie) Van Roekel of Corsica, SD; Harold (Marian) Van Roekel of Wagner, SD, and Mary Ann Van Zee, of Sioux Falls, grandchildren Joe and Jack Hamburg, Matt Hamburg (Tara) and Melanie Jansen (John). Arleen also is survived by Lawrance Browen’s children, Carolyn Heringer (Darrel), Sharon Mork (John), Shirley Larson (Dave), Joy Siefert, (Barry) and Jim Browen (Becky), their children and grandchildren.
Arleen was preceded in death by siblings Joe, Garrian, Jeanette, and Johnny; her husband Mel and her husband Lawrance, her son Larry and her grandson, Jamie.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the South Dakota Alzheimer’s Association.
- Heritage Funeral Home