Arlene Mickley

Arlene Phyllis Mickley, 86, Fargo, ND, died on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Eventide Senior Living, Moorhead, MN.

Arlene Williams Mickley was born in Thief River Falls, MN, on September 4, 1930, to Clarence and Marian Hunt Williams. She was born during the age of believing in the Cinderella and Prince Charming legends of being swept away on a white horse to live happily ever after. Instead she was driven away in a ten-year-old Chevy with bald tires and no reverse gear, learning that everyone must work to build their own happiness. She also learned that hard work never killed anyone, something her mother had told her all her life…and that if you think you will laugh at things someday, you might as well laugh while they are happening!

Her first job was setting pins in a bowling alley-before the days of automatic pin setters. She graduated to collecting rents in apartment buildings and delinquent bills from people who swore the checks were in the mail, babysitting, camp counselor, and cleaning houses. She attended Lincoln High School, with the best group of friends and classmates to ever graduate from that school.

She spent her college years having the time of her life, meeting her future husband, Jerry, whom she married in 1952. She graduated in 1952, with a BS in English, Physical Education, and Science. After a brief stay in Garrison, ND, Arlene and Jerry returned to Moorhead. When their oldest child started school, she returned to Moorhead State University for a degree in Elementary Education. She went back again when Jerry was diagnosed with cancer, continued taking classes all during her teaching career and never lost her love of learning. She taught kindergarten at St. Francis de Sales, Congregational Church, and was the first kindergarten teacher hired when Moorhead started public kindergarten, teaching at Edison School for 27 years. During that time, she was a partner with Jerry in owning a cab company they lost their shirts and a bar, Mick’s Office successful and stressful. She also served on civic and educational committees, including the boards of the MN Kindergarten Association, Lake Agassiz Regional Library, Moorhead Education Association, Trinity Church Caring Center, Great Beginnings Day Care, and Dollars for Scholars. She started the first Red Hat Society Chapter in Fargo/Moorhead and has volunteered at Heirlooms, a store that benefits Hospice, since its inception.

Arlene considered herself a survivor, living through the loss of a child, the illness and death of her husband, the destruction of her home by fire, the rearing of three teenagers, and other smaller disasters. The Mickley home on Lake Eunice has been a treasure to the entire family, a place for building a lifetime of good memories. She also considered herself a triply blessed in having three much loved children who grew into responsible, caring adults. She also has five almost perfect grandchildren, three adorable great-grandchildren, and a wealth of friends.

Arlene is survived by daughters, Dale Michael Griffin, Jill Paul Dobis; son, Tracy Lora Mickley, and brother, Bob Ann Williams.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and son Timothy Claire.

A celebration of life with treats and refreshments, selected by Arlene as a tribute to a kindergarten tradition, will begin at 3:00 PM followed by a memorial service at 4:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.