Funeral services for Arlen G. Ditlevson, age 62, of Conger, will be held

1 p.m. Saturday, May 15,

at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Conger. The Rev. Susan Wallager will officiate. Interment will be in the Conger Community Cemetery. Visitation is 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the services at the Church.

Arlen died Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at the Albert Lea Medical Center.

Arlen G. Ditlevson was born July 26, 1941, to Arthur G. and Lillie M. (Paulson) Ditlevson in Blooming Prairie. He graduated from Dodge Center High School in 1959.

On January 7, 1961, Arlen was united in marriage to Mary Jo Carolyn Perkins at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna. The family moved to Conger in 1962 where Arlen was the assistant manager at the Conger Co-op Creamery and was an award-winning butter maker. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and had been President of the Congregation and a member of the Church Council.

Arlen had been a member of the Conger Fire Department, former Fire Chief, Water Department Superintendent, and Constable. He was currently serving on the City Council and was also known as &uot;Santa Claus.&uot;

Survivors include his wife, Mary Jo of Conger; children: Pamela and her husband Lynn Wasmoen of Emmons, Daniel and his wife Lupe Ditlevson of Conger, and Mary Ditlevson and her significant other Lance Frank of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Erik and his wife Melissa Wasmoen of River Falls, Wis., Angie Mondragon and fiance Nick Clark of Hartland, and Molly Wasmoen of Albert Lea; sister, Jeanette and her husband Clifford Grobner of Owatonna; sister-in-law, Phyllis Kruckeberg of Owatonna; brother-in-law, Alvin Clausen of Blooming Prairie; brothers-in-law: Terry and his wife Janice Perkins of Lawton, Okla., and Randy and his wife Marlene Perkins of Nisswa, Minn.; sisters-in-law: Dorrie and her husband Pat Horan of Hollandale, and Deb Dahl, Becky Madsen, and Sara and her husband Mike Heise, all of Owatonna; many nieces and nephews; and father-in-law, Marvin and his wife Marge Perkins of Port Huenema, Calif.

Arlen was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Corvin; sister, Marilyn Clausen, nephews: Dwain Clausen and Dale Ditlevson; infant sister; and mother-in-law, Marian and her husband Dave Jensen.

Arlen had been diagnosed with diabetes at age 18, and had fought a courageous battle with the disease for most of his life, often participating in experimental treatment at the Mayo Clinic.