Arlene Mills

On March 16, 1939, Arlene Joy Walby was born to Arthur and Anna (Peterson) Walby in Glasgow Mont. She was raised on the family farm that her dad homesteaded in 1916. She had two sisters, Rosalie and Linda.

Arlene attended Glasgow schools for 12 years, was one of 10 teenage conservationists, involved in FFA, 4 H, attended National 4H Congress in 1956, danced at Soden Corunn Palace in Vienna, and graduated from Glasgow High School in 1957.

In 1960, Arlene graduated from Montana State University (MSU) - Missoula in Elementary Education and in 1970 she graduated from Montana State University - Bozeman with a Masters in Education. While at MSU Missoula, she was introduced to Thomas Edward Mills III and they became Royaleers square dance partners.

She married Tom on Jan. 29, 1961. They were blessed with two children, Rusty and Kari, and were married for 59½ years.

Arlene taught school for 25 years in Missoula, Mont., Fayettville, N.C., Glasgow, AFB, Bellevue, Wash., Great Falls, Mont., and North Bend Ore. She taught Environmental Education in Great Falls Mont., was a principal in Wolf Point, Mont., and in Lakeside, Ore., she taught, did Title I and was the principal. In total, she touched the lives of over 5,000 students.

Arlene was secretary for Aerospace Education Summer Institute in Bozeman Mont., was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, President of Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, and President of S.W. region Elementary School Principals in Oregon.

Arlene's minor was US History. She attended Mexico City College in 1959, and minored in European History in Bozeman Mont. Her love of future history (eschatology) led her to Israel's Holy Land in 2002.

Arlene was active in the Gideons Auxiliary for 25 years.

On the morning of Monday, July 31, 2023, Arlene passed away in her sleep at Adventist Hospital in Portland, Ore. Arlene was 84 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, and is survived by two sisters, two children, four grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, at Bell Mortuary, Glasgow. Burial will take place in Highland Cemetery, Glasgow.