Frances Josephine Arneson, 91, of Benson died Monday at Homestead North Healthcare in Benson.The service will be at 11 am Saturday at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson with burial in the church cemetery.Visitation will be for one hour prior to the services at the church.She was born October 13, 1919, Benson, to Emmet F. McGowan and Rose (Craymer) McGowan. She grew up in Swift County and attended both grade and High School in Benson. She graduated in 1937. She married Clifford Arneson on January 7, 1942 in Washington State. The family resided in Benson. They were blessed with eight children and 57 years of marriage. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church where she was Baptized, made her First Communion and was Confirmed.She was a homemaker and helped with the family painting business. As a homemaker, she did gardening and canning. She was a wonderful cook especially when cooking wild game. The children and grandchildren have many memories of wiener roasts (even in the winter), tobogganing and skiing, camping, fishing and spending time at the lake. Her hobbies were her flower garden, cross stitching particularly wedding and baby samplers for each of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She would never turn down chocolate especially Kit-Kat bars. She also enjoyed a cold beer, spending time with her family was special. Her smile and sense of humor will always be cherished. She is survived by her children; Terry (Audrey) Arneson of Benson, Myrna (Alvin) Jacobson of Benson, Martin (Barb) Arneson of Benson, Lynette (Larry) Houdek of Rochester and Michael Arneson of Benson; stepson Donald (Joyce) Arneson of Prior Lake; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Clifford in 1999; sons Edward in 1980, and Clifford "Bud", Jr. in 2003; two grandchildren, Andrew Arneson and Kimberly Hanson; sisters Winifred Goff, Rosemary "Patty" Brown and brother Daniel McGowan.
