A Memorial Service for Arlene Carol (Renken) Groenewold, age 80, of Rushmore, MN, was held June 1, 2020, at the Sunset Rest Cemetery near Rushmore, with Pastor Galen Smith officiating. Arlene passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, in her home surrounded by her family, after a courageous fight with cancer. She was born January 22, 1940, in Sibley, IA to Harry and Anna (Schol) Renken. She grew up and attended a one room country school through the twelfth grade and briefly attended college in Sioux Falls, SD.
She met LeeRoy Groenewold on a blind date, which resulted in marriage on November 27, 1959. They made their home on a farm near Rushmore, MN and had four children. Arlene devoted her life to being a wife, mother, and helping on the farm. During her later years, she devoted her life to her passion of animals and children, always having an open door.
Arlene is survived by her husband, LeeRoy of Rushmore, MN; one daughter, Ann (Byron) of Rushmore, MN; three sons, David (Teresa) of Charleston, SC; Daryl (Danna) of Brookings, SD, and Tim (Sheila) of Hartford, SD; eleven grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren; two sisters, Jeanine (Kevin) of Dell Rapids, SD and Sharon (Mike) of Minneapolis, MN, and one brother, Alan (Brenda) of Dell Rapids, SD.
She was preceded in death by her father, Harry Renken; mother, Anna (Schol-Renken) Frevik; step father, Justin Frevik, and three grandchildren who died in infancy.
Benson Funeral Home in Worthington assisted with the arrangements.
