Helen Margaret Arneson

Helen Margaret Arneson passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 17, 2017, surrounded by her family at home. Memorial Service: 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 108 NW 4th Ave., Mineral Wells, 76067. Inurnment: Memory Gardens of the Valley. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Rosary beginning at 6 p.m. Memorials: Helen was helping to put in a Prayer Garden at Our Lady of Lourdes when she passed and the family requests donations be made to the Prayer Garden in lieu of flowers. Donations made in her name may be sent to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 108 NW 4th Ave., Mineral Wells, 76067. Helen was born on July 21, 1944 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to Alfred and Helen McGrane. Helen graduated from Kohler High School and attended the University of Wisconsin where she first met the love of her life and husband of 52 years. William (Bill) Arneson and Helen were married on March 13, 1965 and, when Bill was assigned to Ft. Wolters after his tour in Vietnam, moved to Mineral Wells in 1967. It was in Mineral Wells that Bill and Helen raised their family of five children and became valued members of the community. Helen was a realtor for many years with Century 21, operated Santa’s Forest Christmas Tree Farm with Bill for 17 years, and, starting in 1999, was instrumental in bringing the historic waters of Mineral Wells back into distribution. Helen was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and a treasured friend to many. She loved her church and church family, gardening, quilting with friends, spending time with family and friends and helping others. She touched many lives through simple acts of love and kindness and through her volunteer work as a Girl Scout leader and as a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, ACTS Missions, Rosary Missions, Historic Mineral Wells and Zonta. Helen is preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Helen McGrane of Kohler, Wisconsin. Survivors: husband, Bill Arneson; children, Wendy Wade and husband, Jeff, of Celina, Kim Alexander and husband, Charlie, of Mineral Wells, Carol Elder and husband, Scott, of Mineral Wells, Todd Arneson and wife, Elizabeth, of Mineral Wells, Chris Cox and husband, Del Van, of Abilene; grandchildren, Cortney Green and husband, Jeff, Katie Wade, Andrew Wade, Justin Wade, Martin Alexander, Kelli Alexander, Zach Elder, Mia Elder, Allee Elder, Emily Cox, Clay Cox and Sarah Cox; two great-grandchildren and one due in October. She is also survived by three brothers, Jerry McGrane, Joe McGrane and Rob McGrane of Wisconsin.