Arlene Nissen

Arlene Alice Nissen, 84, Bemidji, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 28, 2016 while surrounded by family.    Arlene Alice (Lipelt) Nissen, daughter of Ralph Lipelt and Emma (Werre) Lipelt,was born March 25th, 1931 in Elgin, North Dakota.  She graduated from High School in Elgin and attended Business College in Rapid City, South Dakota.  She worked as a secretary for Butler Machine and for the North Dakota State Highway Department in Bismarck, where she met and married Clarence Edward Nissen on February 20, 1953. They moved to Grand Forks in 1956, where she and Clarence were faithful members of Calvary Lutheran Church.  In 2012, many years after Clarence died, she moved to Bemidji, Minnesota and resided at Windsong.  She was an active member of Bethel Lutheran Church.    Arlene is remembered as a loving, enthusiastic Mom and Grandma.  She enjoyed fishing, playing cards, bingo and attending sporting events as her grandchildren’s #1 fan.  She truly loved spending time with family and friends.   Arlene is survived by her children, Renee Lundberg and her husband Ernie, of Lincoln MT, Rhoda Coleman and her husband Henry Shovic, of Bozeman MT and Jim Nissen and his wife Teri, of Nebish, MN; grandchildren, Shane Coleman (Tiffani), Cassie Coleman (Matt Trinidad), Ryan Coleman, Aaron Nissen, and Andrew Nissen; great grandchildren, Keenan, Kade, Patrick, Christian, and Jason; siblings, Norma (Mickey) Magelky, Cathy Pearson, Bonnie Jacobson (Lee), and Ralph Lipelt (Judy).    She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Emma and Ralph Lipelt; husband, Clarence Nissen; siblings, Grant Lipelt, Marion Shaw and Phoebe Erickson; and granddaughter, Mariah Nissen.   Services will be held Saturday, January 30, 2016 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 5232 Irvine Ave. NW, Bemidji, MN. Interment will be at 1:00 P.M. Monday, February 1, 2016 in Memorial Park South Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.   Memorials:  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Arlene’s name to Bethel Lutheran Church, Ronald McDonald House or Bemidji Hospice.