Arlene Busk

Arlene Busk, age 84, of Milbank died June 13, 2016, at Golden Living Center.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. American Lutheran Church in Milbank with Rev. Carl Larson officiating. Burial will follow in the Milbank City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Wednesday at Mundwiler Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the time of service at the church on Thursday.

Arlene Elizabeth (Schwandt) Busk was born on October 19, 1931, to Fred and Goldie (Mueller) Schwandt on a farm south of Milbank on which the well-known hill, “Big Tom” is located. Arlene was baptized on November 15, 1931, and confirmed on May 26, 1946, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Alban Township. She attended Alban #7 country school and graduated from Milbank High School with the class of 1950.

She was united in marriage with William C. Busk, Jr. on May 27, 1951, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Milbank. This union was blessed with 59 years together and three children: Debbie, Randy, and Janelle. With the exception of the first few years of marriage while Bill was in the Army, the couple lived on the family farm near Twin Brooks until June 2009. They then moved to Park Place Assisted Living Center in Milbank. In January 2010 Arlene became a resident of Golden Living Center and remained there until the time of her death.

Arlene was a member of the Country Classics Extension/Community Club and was an active member of American Lutheran Church in Milbank. As a child, Arlene enjoyed participating in 4-H. Later in life she encouraged her children to join as well and took great pleasure in helping them. Arlene enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, assisting her neighbors, and helping at church. She enjoyed the four seasons of the year and loved living in the country. She was caring, thoughtful, and liked to always be kept busy. Arlene was known by the Twin Brooks postmaster as the “Queen of Cards” because she sent greeting cards to friends, neighbors, and relatives for all occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, and get well. Above all, Arlene was a farm wife and mother who cherished time spent with her family.

Left to cherish Arlene’s memory are her three children: Debbie Hathaway of Watertown, SD; Randy Busk (friend, Rosemary Goetschius) of Twin Brooks, SD; and Janelle (Philip) Kelly of Big Stone City, SD; sister, Dorothy Jean (Don) Kauers of Sioux Falls, SD; sister-in-law, Doris Schwandt of Milbank, SD; six grandchildren; one foster granddaughter; ten great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William Busk, Jr., on November 22, 2010; brothers, Gilbert and Myron Schwandt, and sister, Mildred Neuschwander.