Funeral services for Arlene Mae Miller-Kurtz, 78, will be 2:30pm, Monday, January 18, 2010, at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD. Visitation will be from 2pm until 4pm, Sunday, at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings.

Arlene Mae Asmus was born on July 9, 1931, in Ute, IA, the daughter of William and Maurine (Miller) Asmus. Arlene lived in Denison, IA, until 1940, when her family moved to South Dakota. She received her education in Elkton, SD, and was a graduate of the Elkton High School. While in high school, she was employed as a telephone operator. Arlene was married to Marvin E. Miller on June 15, 1950. After their marriage they farmed north of Elkton for several years. From 1952 until 1977, they farmed near Aurora, SD. She was also employed at Sears Mail Order and SDSU Food Service. In 1978, they moved into Aurora. Marvin died on November 3, 1981. On October 6, 1985, she married Kenneth Kurtz and moved to Brookings, SD. They enjoyed spending their winter months in Arizona. Kenneth died on December 12, 2006. Arlene had been a resident of the United Retirement Center since 2003.

Arlene was a member of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings. She was a past member of the First English Lutheran Church in Aurora, where she was also a member of the Ladies Aid and taught Bible School and Sunday School. Arlene will always be remembered for her wonderful baking and cooking skills.

She is survived by her children Darwin (Alda) Miller of Tea, SD, Dennis (Rita) Miller of Brookings, SD, Deborah (Dave) Hinde of Sioux Falls, SD, Dawn (Darwin) Tellinghuisen of Rochester Hills, MI; her step-children Andy (Sharon) Kurtz of Gold Canyon, Arizona, Karen (Donald) McDowell of Mesa, AZ, Ellen (Don) Kasak of Brookings, SD, Cliff (Jeri) Kurtz of Brookings, SD, Sally (Larry) Eachen of Aurora, SD, Linda (Willard) Buelow of Truman, MN; nine grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; two sisters LaVon Lane of Brookings, SD, Lois (Roger) Teal of Brookings, SD; and one sister-in-law Eleanor Asmus of Mitchell, SD

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, three brothers Harold, DeWaine and Alvin and one sister Mary Ann Sterud. Arlene died on Saturday, January 16, 2010, at the United Retirement Center in Brookings.