Ruth Arlene Orton, 88

Ruth Arlene Orton, age 88, passed away on June 3, 2023, at Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility in Bolivar, Missouri. She always went by her middle name, Arlene. She was the devoted wife of Richard Orton for 68 years.

Arlene was born November 26, 1934, in Clearmont, Missouri, to Lloyd and Dorothy McCullough. She grew up on her parents' farm in Villisca, Iowa with her three sisters, Donna, Judy, and Carol. Arlene went to a country school near her home through eighth grade, and then graduated from Villisca High School in 1953.

Arlene and her sisters were hard working farm gals. Together in their teen years they even did custom haying for other farmers. After graduation Arlene went to work for Dr. Jenson in Clarinda, Iowa, where she was the receptionist and did nursing duties. Arlene married her high school sweetheart Richard Orton on November 26, 1954, and made their home on a farm in Villisca, Iowa. This was the beginning of raising four children, Nancy, Cynthia, Randy, and Marcy. While farming with her husband, Arlene also worked for the Ever-Ready Battery Company in Red Oak, Iowa.

In the spring of 1970 Richard and Arlene moved with their children to Baudette, Minnesota and continued their farming operation raising beef cattle. Additionally, while farming and raising her children, Arlene began working at the Pioneer Nursing Home in Baudette where she was known for her very hard working, caring, and compassionate ways. She developed some lifelong friendships with her co-workers and was always ready to visit and share a cup of coffee with friends.

In 1980 they left the winters of Minnesota, moving to build and develop a new farm near Dunnegan, Missouri. During the next many years, Arlene continued her caring ways by working at different Nursing homes in the Humansville and Bolivar areas where she again created more lifetime friendships, and coffee companions.

The joy of her life during these years was to spend a summer month vacation driving up north sharing precious time with her four children and numerous grandchildren.

Upon retirement from daily Nursing Home work, she continued her caring ways by transporting patients to and from medical and dental appointments. Arlene also continued her active lifestyle by cleaning different people’s homes, and enjoyed running errands for people while she was now well into her 80’s. Helping others was the joy of her life.

Arlene always made time for Church. While in Minnesota was a member of First Lutheran Church of Baudette, and then in Dunnegan at Spring Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Upon selling their farm in 2021, Arlene and Richard moved to Assisted Living apartments at Butterfield in Bolivar in 2021, with Arlene moving to Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility in 2022.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Dorothy McCullough, Sister Judy Kemper, brother-in-law’s Milton Newcomer, Ed Kemper, Ron Hart, and Dwight Orton, Sister-in-law Sue Orton, son-in-law’s Ed Sawyer, and Donald Kowskie.
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Arlene is survived by her husband of 68 years, Richard, sisters, Donna Newcomer, Denver CO, and Carol Hart, Villisca, IA, Sister-in-law Peggy Orton, Las Vegas, NV, daughters, Nancy (Bertel) Anundson of Baudette, MN; Cynthia Sawyer of Wadena, MN; Marcy Kowskie of Glenwood, IA, and son Randy (Carol) Orton of Baudette, MN, seven grandchildren, John (Kristy) Sawyer, Jill (Derek) Olson, Heather (Mariah) Orton, Brock (Kalene) Anundson, Kala (Eric) Sawyer, Erin (Rick) Williams, Sara Kowskie, 19 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Monday, June 19, 2023, at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar.