Arlene Riffle, 99, of Perry passed away Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, at her home in Perry, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Carris Family Funeral Home and Cremation Care in Perry with visitation from 5 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at the McCook Cemetery in North Sioux City, S.D. Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. Everyone is required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing while attending visitation and services.
Memorials will be given to Child Evangelism and Disabled American Veterans and may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
Arlene Magnhild Riffle was born Aug. 27, 1921 in Concord, Nebraska, to Fred and Hilda (Swanson) Wessman.
She graduated from the Concord High School and later attended the Free Church Bible School and the Moody Bible Institute.
Arlene was united in marriage to E. Gordon Riffle at Sioux City, Iowa, March 18, 1947.
Arlene worked at Dryers Bakery, Montgomery Wards for 14 years and Fantles department store, and she provided childcare in her home and at the Free Church.
She was a member of the Evangelical Free Church and president of Daughters Auxiliary Goodwill.
Arlene taught Child Evangelism and Sunday School and was an avid reader and quilter. She enjoyed playing Mexican Train and Scrabble with her friends and family.
In death she rejoins her husband, Gordon; parents, Fred and Hilda; brothers, Eugene Wessman in childhood and Richard Wessman; sisters, Magnhild Wessman in infancy, Amelia Maurer and Marion Gray; daughter, Melody Klingensmith; son, Rob Riffle; son-in-law, Paul Bales; and a grandson, Adam Riffle.
Left to cherish Arlene’s memory are her children, Merrilee Bales and E. Jay (Rose) Riffle; daughter-in-law, Sharon Riffle; son-in-law, Dave Klingensmith; grandchildren, Amy Riffle, Heidi Keller, Katie Keller, Jessica Klingensmith, Sarah Elash, Rachel Bosiak, Christa Sibbett, Aaron Bales, Ashlee Knepper and Sam Riffle; great-grandchildren, Joseph Pinski, Alayna Pinski, Leyton Pinski, Indiana Keller, Trace Keller, Perrin Keller, Emery Keller, Eva Keller, Vivian Keller, Summer Gross, Jayda Harrison, Charlie Elash, Ethan Bosiak, Brooklyn Bosiak, Annabelle Wilkinson, Drake Knepper, Aubrey Knepper, Robert Riffle, Lucas Riffle, Sadie Riffle and Wesley Riffle; and many nieces and nephews.
