Arlene Ethel Rosell

Arlene Ethel Fearing was born August 26, 1933 at home near Clotho, MN to Arthur and Evelyn (Nygaard) Fearing. She was baptized on October 31, 1933 in Eagle Bend. At age 16, Arlene began working for the local butter maker to support herself through high school. During that time, she met the love of her life, Eldridge “Squirt” Rosell at the Long Prairie Roller Rink.

Arlene went on to graduate from Long Prairie High School in 1951 and married Squirt on June 1, 1951 shortly before he deployed to Korea in the Army. Ever devoted, she wrote him a letter every day for an entire year while he was overseas.

Following Squirt's service, the couple briefly lived in Minneapolis before purchasing the Rosell family farm near Rose City. There, Arlene worked alongside Squirt on the farm while they raised their family. They later moved to Miltona, MN in 1978 and to Alexandria, MN in 2014.

Arlene was an excellent cook and loved to entertain, especially for Sunday lunches after church with extended family and guests. She later worked as a cook and baker for Rainbow Court, Perkins, and Country Kitchen who once took out a billboard on I-94 that boasted “Arlene makes the best pies!”

In addition to cooking, Arlene had many hobbies including sewing, gardening, fishing, reading and collecting cookbooks, and playing cards. She also enjoyed garage sales, thrift stores, and sharing a cup of coffee and a good meal out.

Arlene was exceptionally devoted to Squirt and their five children and grandchildren. She was affectionately nicknamed “Bunn” by her first grandchild, a name that carried on with every grandchild and great grandchild thereafter.

A woman of strong faith, Arlene was a long-time member of the Rose City Evangelical Free Church where she taught Sunday School and was active in the Ladies Aid.

Arlene passed away peacefully on August 10, 2025 with family by her side.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Gladys Tinsley, Doris Pederson, Viola Jenkins, Helen Held, and Sharon Wagner; brothers Warren Fearing and infant Jack Fearing; parents-in-law Louis and Annie Rosell and many siblings-in-law.

Arlene is survived by Squirt, her husband of 74 years, and five children, Lin (John) Gilbertson of Alexandria, MN, Deb Stadum of Nashville, TN, Michael (Debbie) Rosell of Bella Vista, AR, Vicki (Eric) Gesell of Miltona, MN, and Rick Rosell of Ocala, FL; 12 grandchildren; soon to be 29 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; sister Ruthie (Pat) Skelley, sister-in-law Elrene Rosell, brother-in-law Jerry Wagner, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025, 10:00 - 11:00 AM at the Rose City Free Evangelical Church in Rose City, MN with a Memorial Service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at Rose City Cemetery.