Clarence Oliver Arnelien
August 7, 1924 – January 5, 2015
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Clarence Oliver Arnelien. Clarence passed away peacefully January 5, 2015 at the Cabri Prairie Health Care Center with his family by his side. Clarence will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his daughter Marilyn (Bob) Doering – Jamie (Katrina) Thoreson, Kimberley Montaque; Diane Arnelien – Jessica (Dave) Parsons, Beau (Diana) Bernier; Beverly (Shawn) Sorensen – Kerry (Christa) Sorensen, Lindsey (Wade) Fenez, Teneille (Rob) McConnell; Danny (Heather) Arnelien – Braden, Emily. Clarence has six great grandchildren, Jayden and Jory Montaque; Hayden, Evan and Dylan Fenez, and Ryker Sorensen. Clarence was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn in 1991; mother Anne in 1991; father Olaf in 1981; and his brother Lloyd in 2000. Clarence is survived by his brothers Alfred (Bjorg), Allan (Evelena), Stanley (Barbara), Kenneth (Janet), Larry (Jacqueline); sisters Bernice (Roy) Hesla; and Gloria (Chris) Henoch. Clarence was born in Cabri, Saskatchewan on August 7, 1924, the eldest of seven brothers and two sisters, to Olaf and Anne Arnelien. He received his education at Cabri School. Clarence enjoyed music and played in the Cabri Brass Band for some of his school years. He is fondly remembered by his children for his love of playing the accordion and playing game after game of Norwegian Whist. Clarence began farming in 1945 and married Evelyn Undseth on November 9, 1949. They enjoyed traveling to many destinations when not busy with farm work. Clarence loved the mountains, ocean and swimming and family holidays were often to camping destinations in BC. They travelled often to Hawaii but Clarence’s most memorable holiday was travelling back to Norway to meet many relatives for the first time and to visit the “Arnelien Farm” in Aal, Hallingdal, where his dad Olaf was raised and to meet his mother Anne Venedokken’s relatives residing in and around Aal. Clarence’s greatest love was farming and after retiring he lived vicariously through his son and son-in-law, always wanting to hear what they were doing in regards to farming, never tiring of hearing the details. A celebration of Clarence’s life was held at Scandia Lutheran Church in Cabri on Saturday, February 21, 2015 with Pastor Greg Kiel officiating. Music was by his daughter-in-law, Heather Arnelien; tributes to Clarence were by two of his grandchildren, Lindsey Fenez and Kerry Sorensen; urn bearer was his grandson, Jamie Thoreson; and ushers were grandsons Braden Arnelien and Beau Bernier. Interment will be held at a later date at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Donations in memory of Clarence may be made to the Cabri Hospital Auxiliary.