Arlene Jagol 77 of Thief River Falls, MN passed away peacefully after a sudden bout with cancer on Monday, March 29, 2021 at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, MN with her loving family by her side.

The Memorial Service to Celebrate Arlene's life will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 2, 2021 at Black River Lutheran Church, rural Red Lake Falls, MN with Rev. Sheila Michaels officiating. Burial will be at the Rux Cemetery, rural St. Hilaire, MN. Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN and one hour prior to the service on Friday at Black River Lutheran Church.

Arlene Lucille Niemela was born February 24, 1944 in Thief River Falls, MN the daughter of George and Lucille (Anderson) Niemela. She was baptized May 28, 1944 in the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Middle River, MN and confirmed May 10, 1959 at the First Lutheran Church in Middle River. Arlene attended school in Middle River graduating with the class of 1962. That same year, she was named as Marshall County Dairy Princess. Following high school, Arlene went to work as a receptionist at Northwest Clinic in Crookston, MN.

On June 8, 1963, Arlene was united in marriage to Edward Jagol at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN. To this union three children were born, Jon, Jodi and Jeremy. They made their home in many places in northwest Minnesota and the Iron Range; and finally settling near Thief River Falls in Sanders Township in 1973.

After her children were old enough, Arlene worked at different jobs including catering for Lillian Rux, cooking at The Both Of Us and was a Teacher's Aide for the St. Hilaire School in St. Hilaire, Washington Elementary School, Franklin Middle School and Challenger Elementary School in Thief River Falls for over 30 years.

She was an active member of both the Black River Lutheran Church and Melo Lutheran Church of Angus, MN.

Arlene enjoyed her pets, animals, dancing the waltz & polka, listening to classic country, watching classic TV shows, cooking, gardening, playing cards, mowing & caring for her beautiful yard, spending time visiting with family and friends, and most of all she loved time with her grandkids. Arlene can be described as a very beautiful, kind, stubborn, caring, proud woman.

Survivors include her husband of almost 58 years, Ed Jagol of Thief River Falls; children, Jon of Eau Claire, Wi, Jodi (Rob) Wolfe of Hovland, MN and Jeremy Jagol of Thief River Falls; grandchildren, Jesse, Jordan, Emma, & Jack; siblings, Steve Niemela of Blaine, MN, Ken (Deb) Niemela of Thief River Falls, Nancy (Leonard) Olson of Middle River, MN; Godmother & aunt, Mildred Ness of Thief River Falls; aunt, Evelyn Niemela of Greenbush, MN; several sisters-in-law, Ursula Jagol, Joyce Olson, Evelyn Kalsnes, Margie Coan, Arlene Tholkes, Donna Holmes, Jean Jagol & Sandy (Greg) Johnson; brother-in-law, Denny Nicholson; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Wendell Ortloff; mother and father-in-law, Anna & Alec Jagol; brothers-in-law, Alvin Jagol, Joe Jagol, Duane Jagol, George "Hilman" Jorgenson, Ed Nephew, Harold Kalsnes, Ray Olson, and Alton Kalsnes; sisters-in-law, Jane Jorgenson, Alice Nephew & Rosie Nicholson; aunts, uncles & cousins.

Thank you to the many doctors, nurses, and CNA's at Altru Health System, Villa St. Vincent, and Hospice of the Red River Valley, who helped care for Arlene in this time of difficult illness.

Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com