Cover photo for Arlene J. Mills's Obituary
Arlene J. Mills Profile Photo
1939 Arlene 2023

Arlene J. Mills

March 16, 1939 — July 31, 2023

On March 16, 1939, Arlene Joy Walby was born to Arthur and Anna (Peterson) Walby in Glasgow Montana.  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 twelve years, was one of ten 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 MSU Missoula with a degree in Elementary Education, and in 1970 she graduated from MSU Bozeman with a Master’s 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 January 29, 1961. They were blessed with two children Rusty and Kari and were married for 59 ½ years.

Arlene taught school for 25 years in Missoula, Montana, Fayettville, North Carolina, Glasgow, Montana AFB, Bellevue, Washington, Great Falls, Montana, and North Bend, Oregon.  She taught Environmental Education in Great Falls, Montana, was a Principal in Wolf Point, Montana, and in Lakeside, Oregon where 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, Montana, 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 in US History. She attended Mexico City College in 1959 and minored in European History in Bozeman, Montana.  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, Oregon.  Arlene was 84 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her sisters; son, Rusty Mills and daughter, Kari (Mike) Wade; four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Bell Mortuary. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Arlene J. Mills, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Funeral Service

Thursday, August 17, 2023

1:00 - 2:00 pm (Mountain time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Burial

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Starts at 2:00 pm (Mountain time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Reception

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Starts at 2:30 pm (Mountain time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Photo Gallery

Guestbook

Visits: 4

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree