Arlene Fladmark

Arlene Dorothy Fladmark, 84, of Duluth Township, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Saturday, Oct 23 due to Alzheimer’s disease. We were blessed to have had her as the loving center of our family for so many years.

Arlene was born to Walter and Emma (Voight) Beneke on April 11, 1937 in Glencoe, Minnesota. After high school, she attended business college in Mankato and was employed by Standard Oil. She married Orlando “Lars” Fladmark on January 9, 1960, and they lived in Washington D.C., Billings, Montana and Minneapolis before settling in Duluth in 1962. She worked at Otis-Magie-Gustafson Insurance for several years, and then stayed home to raise her four children.

Arlene was a very active member of French River Lutheran Church and was very involved in her children’s school activities. She was a wonderful mother and a ‘second mom’ to many of her children’s friends. She was known for her sweet, gracious and kind spirit and her famous Scotcheroos. Her greatest joy was time spent with family, whether at home or at the cabin on the Gunflint Trail, where no one could beat her at a game of Canasta.

Lars and Arlene were happily married for 61 years and even in the midst of Alzheimer’s, to her last day she always had a big beautiful smile for her beloved husband.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Gordon Beneke; and her sister, Norma Oelfke.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Orlando “Lars” Fladmark; daughters Toni (Jeff) Foster, Vikki (David) McKinney, and Bari (Tim) Hunt; son Jeff (Casey) Fladmark; grandchildren Courtney (Tim), Blake, Chessa, Dain, and Cade; and great-grandchildren, Oliver and Poppy – all of whom she loved so dearly. We were blessed to have had her bright smile and unconditional love throughout our lives and will miss her deeply.

Special thanks to her best friend and caregiver, Kim Boecker, who helped brighten her days.

Due to Covid, a small private family service will be held at French River Lutheran Church on Friday, Oct. 29. For those who wish to participate, the service will be livestreamed at 11:00 am as well as archived at https://www.youtube.com/c/FrenchRiverLutheranChurch. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery at Palmers. To share your memories or condolences online please visit www.cavallinfuneralhome.com.