Arlene Montgomery

Arlene Montgomery, 79, of Mountain Home, Arkansas passed away on Oct. 29, 2022, in Mountain Home.

Arlene was born on Feb. 11, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan, to Paul H. Rieker and Jennie (Nowlin) Rieker. She grew up in rural Livonia, Michigan and enjoyed the great outdoors. Having an idyllic childhood, she loved tree forts, bike rides, swimming, horseback rides and endless games. She graduated from Bentley High School. She started college at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1961, where she met her husband of 59 years, Jerold Montgomery. They were married in 1963 after her sophomore year and lived in married student apartments on campus until Jerry graduated in 1966.

Arlene paused her education to work Jerry through his mechanical engineering degree, first in the registrar's office at the university and then as a legal secretary at a Kalamazoo law firm. After Jerry's graduation, they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, built their dream home and settled into the bustling university town where Jerry worked for Ford Motor Company in Saline, Michigan. She worked as an administrative assistant in a personnel staffing office. Both of their children were born in Ann Arbor and when her daughter got to kindergarten, Arlene enrolled at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan and finished her Bachelor of Science degree, graduating in 1980.

A change in Jerry's employment meant a move to Libertyville, Illinois and Abbott Laboratories. Leaving Michigan was hard. She was a loyal Michigander in her heart. She worked as an outpatient facilitator at Lake Forest Hospital, a job she loved, and also did the financial statements for Condell Memorial Hospital gift shop. She was very involved in her children's school activities as a room mother, art lady, team mom and attended every game and concert of the kids.

Retirement brought Arlene to Mountain Home, Arkansas in 1999. It took her about a year to adjust, she was a fast talking Yankee after all, but she very much enjoyed the climate, the friendly people and the southern way of life. They built another dream home in the woods and she loved to watch all the birds and critters coming to the feeders. She enjoyed chocolate, needlework, reading and cheering for the Michigan Wolverines (Go Blue), her beloved Detroit Lions and Red Wings. She became interested in genealogy and was always on the hunt for links, finding war heroes and villains including an axe murderer in her family tree. In 2009, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She was a charter member and participant in the Rock Steady Boxing program, an exercise/support group for Parkinson's patients. She held leadership positions and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the Alley White Auxiliary Unit 52 The American Legion, Redeemer Lutheran Church and Alpha Omicron Pi Alumnae.

Arlene is survived by her husband, Jerold; her son, Jeffrey (Michelle) Montgomery of Kenosha, Wisconsin; her daughter, Amy Lynn (Jeff) Montgomery Robinson of Antioch, Illinois; four grandchildren, Natassia Schwandt and Danielle Schwandt Kunz of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Jacob and Joshua Robinson of Antioch, Illinois; three great-granddaughters, Jamie Strehlow and Mercy and Lacey Kunz of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Timothy.

A celebration of life service will be held at Conner Family Funeral Home & Cremation Center at a later date. Interment will be at Glen Eden Cemetery in Livonia, Michigan.

Memorials may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research, Rock Steady Boxing c/o BRMC MRUK House or Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Arrangements are by Conner Family Funeral Home & Cremation Center. An online obituary and guest book are available at www.connerfamilyfuneralhome.com.