Arlein M. Fransen, 90, of Wessington Springs, died Oct. 3, 2013 at Weskota Manor Avera Nursing Home.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Wessington Springs, with burial in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Pastor John Paulson officiated.
Arrangements were by Basham Funeral Service, Wessington Springs.
Arlein was born June 21, 1923 in Willow Lake to Andrew and Hilma (Haug) Rekstad.  She was raised on a farm near Willow Lake. The farm has been in the family for over 100 years.
She attended school at Willow Lake and graduated from Willow Lake High School in 1941. She went on to earn her teaching degree from Augustana College. She taught high school in Willow Lake, Bryant and Oldham.
On Aug. 22, 1948 she married Charles Fransen at Montevideo, Minn. Together they lived in Denver, Onida and Scotland, before moving to Wessington Springs in 1961.  There they owned and operated Fransen Jewelry.
Arlein also taught English at the Wessington Springs High School and was head librarian there, until her retirement in 1988.
She was an active member of P.E.O. and the American Legion Auxiliary.  She devoted much of her volunteer time to the Dunham Historical Society, spending many hours at the Heritage Center Museum. She had a love for reading, watching the Minnesota Twins and following her grandchildren’s sporting events throughout the years.
Arlein had an excellent memory and her stories of her youth and family were always entertaining.
She is survived by two sons, Roger and wife, Bonnie, of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Robert and wife, Mary, of Issaquah, Wash.; a daughter, Melanie Baysinger and husband, Kevin, of Woonsocket; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Charles Fransen.