Arleen was born on April 13, 1918, to Elmer and Alma (Hanson) Severson in Madison, Minnesota. She grew up in Yellow Medicine County. After graduation from Cottonwood High School in 1936, she was employed at the Yellow Medicine County Treasurer's Office. On December 18, 1943, she was married to Arlo Hawkinson at St. Lucas Lutheran Church in rural Cottonwood, Minnesota. They lived on farm sites in Swede Prairie, Normania and Vallers Townships until they moved to Cottonwood in 1964. She began taking piano lessons at the age of five and took a correspondence piano course for a year from the Kansas American College of Music. Music was a big part of her life. She was church choir director at St. Lucas and taught piano for many years. Throughout her life she used her special talent of playing the piano to entertain at numerous occasions. For many years she had a part in leading a Bible study group at West Prairie Apartments in Cottonwood. In August of 1999 they moved to Boulder Estates in Marshall, Minnesota. Her personal walk with her Lord was shown in her concern for others and their salvation. To her family she was "our prayer warrior". Missing her most are her husband, Arlo; children: Susan and Cliff Hanson of Cottonwood, Julie and Ron Dearking of Hutchinson, Minnesota, and Steve and Anna Hawkinson of Cottonwood; eight grandchildren: Heidi Hanson Beck of Cottonwood, Kristin Campion of Marshall, Sonya Hanson Yeadon of Sunnyvale, California, Trudi Hansen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Chad Dearking of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Eric Dearking of Mounds View, Minnesota, Joshua Hawkinson of Cottonwood and Marie Hawkinson of Cottonwood; eight great grandchildren; and sister, Erma Ellingson of Marshall. Preceding her to her heavenly home were her parents; an infant daughter; sister Deloryce Hanson and brother Luverne Severson. Visitation Friday, September 29, 2000 * 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Prayer Service 8:00 p.m. Christ Lutheran Church, Cottonwood, Minnesota Officiating, Pastor Peggy Paugh Leuzinger Funeral Service Saturday, September 30, 2000 * 11:00 a.m. Christ Lutheran Church, Cottonwood, Minnesota Officiating, Pastor Steve Leuzinger Organist, Gwen Arneson Vocal Music, Ted Landmark Casket Bearers (Her Grandchildren) Heidi Hanson Beck, Kristin Campion Sonya Hanson Yeadon, Trudi Hansen Chad Dearking, Eric Dearking Joshua Hawkinson, Marie Hawkinson Final Resting Place St. Lucas Lutheran Cemetery, Normania Township Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota