Arletta Mae Berneking

Arletta Mae (Siegel) Berneking

August 8, 1932 – 01/30/2025

Arletta Mae (Siegel) Berneking of Alexandria, Minnesota passed away on January 30, 2025 at Bethany on the Lake – Pelican Bay Memory Care. Visitation will be held from 1-3 pm followed by a Memorial Service at 3 pm on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria, Minnesota. Lunch to follow at the funeral home.

Arletta was born on August 8, 1932 in Wheaton, Minnesota to Arthur and Lydia (Kunkel) Siegel. Arletta was baptized and confirmed in Wheaton with confirmation on April 14th 1946 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Minnesota. She graduated on June 2, 1950 from Wheaton High School.

Arletta was united in marriage to Marlin Berneking on May 27th, 1951. Arletta had various jobs during their early years of marriage and they lived at the Berneking farm in rural Wheaton. To this union, one son, Ronald was born on July 11, 1955 on a stormy night. Arletta was a very active farm wife helping with chores, driving the tractor, caring for sheep, assisting with the lambing season. She also tended a large garden and did lots of canning and freezing of the produce she harvested. She enjoyed embroidery work and made several sets of dish towels, pillow cases, table cloths and other items. She worked hard cooking and baking for her family bringing countless lunches to the field for her husband and later, her son, also. She was also a great baker and made numerous cakes, bars, cookies pies and caramel rolls which earned her the title of “goodie grandma” by her grandchildren!

In 1970, Arletta and Marlin moved to a farm near Holmes City, Minnesota where they continued to farm and raise sheep and after graduation from high school in 1974, Ron also joined in the farming operation. Eventually they sold the sheep and started milking cows. Arletta continued to help with lots of farm related activities. She raised chickens too and for the annual family get together on the 4th of July holiday, they would host Arletta’s family and would serve delicious fried chicken and watermelon and they would play softball. This was enjoyed for many years.

Arletta cleaned cabins at a local resort for several years and she also sold Avon for which she won many awards for top saleswoman. She enjoyed this as she got to visit with many neighbors and friends. She also volunteered at Douglas County Hospital for a time. She also spent a lot of time babysitting her 4 grandchildren. Arletta was a great wife, mother, friend, aunt, grandma and great-grandma. She will be loved and missed by many.

In 2008, Marlin and Arletta moved to their condo on Temple Street in Alexandria. They enjoyed living in town and discovered music on the courthouse lawn every Thursday evening during the summer months, with the music provided by various local musicians. They also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, playing Yahtzee and Sequence. Both Marlin and Arletta spent a lot of time over the years, with their grandson, Steve, after he had suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2000. They would play countless card games with him and he enjoyed these times very much.

In 2018, they moved to Edgewood Assisted Living after Marlin fell and broke his shoulder for a bit and then back to the condo on Temple Street and eventually back to Edgewood when Marlin’s health started to fail, Arletta was his constant caregiver and was devoted to assisting him with his daily tasks and spent many nights caring for him until his passing.

Arletta continued to reside at Edgewood Assisted Living until December 2023 when she fell and fractured her femur. After a short time in the hospital, Arletta went to Bethany Assisted Living Rehab Center in hopes of returning to Edgewood but unfortunately, never did regain the ability to care for herself independently and was transferred to Pelican Bay Memory Care and on April 2, 2024, she was admitted to Hospice care for some extra attention and services until her passing on January 30, 2025.

Arletta is survived by her son, Ronald (Jolee) Berneking of Farwell, Minnesota, 3 grandchildren: Jennifer (Mike) Bengtson of Kensington, Minnesota, Mike (Trisha) Berneking of Farwell, Minnesota and Christopher (Kirstin) Berneking of Millerville, Minnesota and 2 step-grandchildren Erik Zinke and Elizabeth (Kaylee) Zinke, 7 great-grandchildren: Lilly and Zach Vick, Keryn Bengtson, Carter Berneking, Addison, Ayla and Joslyn Berneking, her sister, Betty Rusch of New Effington, South Dakota. Arletta was preceded in death by her husband Marlin, her beloved grandson, Steven, her parents, Arthur and Lydia, seven siblings: Harley, Byron, Loren, Laurel, Lealand and Wayne Siegel and Patty (Russ) Waskow and step mother, Fern (Fahleen) Siegel.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home with a Prayer Service at 3:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at Oscar Lake Cemetery.