Arline L. Monson, 87, of Emmons, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 18, 2011, at Emmons Lutheran Church. The Rev. Julie Fisk will officiate. Interment will be at the Oaklawn Cemetery. Relatives and friends are welcome at the Bayview Funeral Home, in Albert Lea from 4 to 7 p.m. today for visitation and at the church one hour before service. Condolences may be expressed at www.bayviewfuneral.com. Preferred memorials are to the Emmons Lutheran Church.

Arline LaFern Nelson was born Jan. 13, 1924, in Twin Lakes to Melvin and Olga (Bakken) Nelson. Arline’s mother Olga died when Arline was 5 years old but was lovingly mothered by her Bakken aunts and Myrtle Henderson Nelson when she became her stepmother. Arline was baptized, confirmed and married at Lunder Lutheran Church. She attended grade school in Twin Lakes and she attended high school in Albert Lea. On Feb. 15, 1942, Arline was united in marriage to Kenneth Monson at Lunder Lutheran church in rural Twin Lakes. After marriage, she became a member of Emmons Lutheran Church. She belonged to the Emmons Ladies Aid and to the Emmons Lutheran circles and taught Bible school for several years. Arline and Kenneth were members of the Sons of Norway and the Elks. She was in direct sales for several years. She enjoyed entertaining family and friends and relatives, reading, dancing and redecorating their home. Arline and Kenneth farmed north of Emmons for many years, then moved into Emmons upon their retirement. Arline and Kenneth enjoyed traveling to visit their children and grandchildren and in later years, seeing their great-grandchildren. Arline was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will be greatly missed.

Arline is survived by her three children: son Gay, of Emmons; daughter, Katherine Ann (Gary), of Long Lake; and son, Leslie (Nancy) of Litchfield. Grandchildren: Tracy Monson, of Rochester, (special friend, Katie El-Eid), Rochester; Mark (Angela) Monson, of Mankato; Christopher Madson, of Burnsville; James Madson and fiancé Tammy Denington, of Chanhassen; Melissa (Jason) Ponting, of Montrose; Matthew (Megan) Monson, of San Francisco, Calif.; Jordan Monson, of Pamplona, Spain. Great-grandchildren: Jacob and Isaac Monson, of Dodge Center, and their mother Heather Bowman, of Dodge Center; Grace and Gabrielle Monson, of Mankato; Emma Madson and Corin Denington, of Chanhassen; Justus and Journey Ponting, of Montrose; and Trina Hannah, of Minneapolis; also her sister, Helen J. Hill, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and sisters-in-law, Virginia Nelson, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Carmen Buendorf, of Blue Earth; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Arline was preceded in death by her parents and stepmother; her husband, Kenneth Monson; her sister, Sylvia Nelson; her brother, Nordean Nelson; daughter-in-law, Phyllis Monson; and great-grandson, Benjamin Monson.