Arlene "Mickie" Kruse

Arlene “Mickie” O. Kruse, 99, of Moorhead, MN, died Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at Sanford Palliative Care, Fargo, ND.

Arlene was born April 19, 1915 to Frank and Grace (Northrup) St. John on the family farm in Beltrami, MN. She attended school in rural Black River Township. She married Arnold Kruse on April13, 1935 in Crookston, MN. When they were first married, Arnold and Arlene bought her parents’ farm. They later sold it and moved to St. Hilaire, MN for six years. They lived in Halstad, MN from 1951 to 2003.

Arlene worked at St. Hilaire Creamery and the Halstad Café as a baker. She also worked at Noel’s Super Valu grocery store in Halstad for 25 years, retiring in 1991. She was a member of Royal Neighbor’s of America and the Halstad Lutheran Church including the Ladies Aid.

Arlene is survived by her children, Robert (Ellen) Kruse of Moorhead, MN, Beverly (John) Cousins of Moorhead, MN, Arnold (Bonnie) Kruse Jr. of Maxbass, ND, Dennis (Joyce) Kruse of Halstad, MN, Betty (David) Rein of Moorhead, MN, Judith (Ronald) Irwin of Napa, CA, and Stevan (Patty) Kruse of Fargo, ND; brother, Jack St. John of Zilla, WA; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, granddaughter Lisa Cousins, brother Arthur St. John, and sisters Verna Heggestuen, Goldie Kruse, and Ruby Boutain.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Halstad Lutheran Church or Halstad South Cemetery.