Verner Arveson, 88, died on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at Oakland Park Nursing Home in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at Oak Park Lutheran Church, rural Oklee, MN with Reverend Abrahamson officiating. Burial will be in Oak Park Cemetery, rural Oklee, MN.

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a Prayer service at 8:30 P.M. on Wednesday evening and at the church for one hour prior to the service on Thursday.

Verner Melroy Arveson was born on January 3, 1919 in Hickory Township, son of Eddie and Hannah (Bakken) Arveson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended rural school.

Verner was united in marriage to Mildred Janet Hanson on July 17, 1940 at Nazareth Church Parsonage by Pastor Fladmark. The couple farmed in Deer Park Township their entire lives.

He was a member of Oak Park Lutheran Church, was on the Red Lake Electric Board, the Red Lake Water District, Goodridge School Board, Bray Insurance Board, Inter County Nursing Council, Minnkota Electric Board and also on several church boards. Mildred said if she had a board for every board Verner served on, she could build a new house.

Verner is survived by one daughter, Shirley (Cliff) Swanson of Thief River Falls, MN; one son, Loren (Barb) Arveson of Warroad, MN; five grandchildren, Jan Swanson, Lori Grandalen, Trevor Swanson, Melissa Engstrom and Paul Arveson; eight great grandchildren, Luke and Derrick Rygg, Lexie and Holly Jo Grandalen, Hannah and Connor Swanson, Jordan Arveson and Jacob Engstrom; brother, Lloyd (Mae) Arveson of International Falls, MN; sister, Alvina (Alfred) Hanson of Thief River Falls, MN; sister-in-law, Luella Arveson of Thief River Falls, MN; brother-in-law, Gunder (Kitty) Hanson of Detroit Lakes, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred, on March 13, 2004; his parents; brother, Clifford; foster brother, Vernon Christianson, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com