Arlene Lewis

Arlene Lewis passed from our presence May, 11, 2016. She was born Arline Bernice White, February, 27, 1923, to Lillie (Norgaard) White and Holgar White, in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Holgar and Lillie were both first generation Dane and children of the earliest pioneers in Moody County. Arlene (she didn't like the original spelling of her name so she changed it) grew up in Dell Rapids during the Great Depression, but, regardless of the circumstances of the time, God provided for all of their needs. God continued to provide for Arlene as she married and raised a family with James Ernest (Ernie) Lewis in Sioux Falls from 1942 until Ernie's death in November 2001. A self-taught pianist, Arlene was organist and pianist for Riverside Presbyterian Church for over 40 years. Her family was her life. Her apartment was adorned with pictures of her five children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as several foster children that she and Ernie provided a home for after Janice and Jim had started their own families. Arlene was preceded in her journey to the new home promised to her by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by her husband, one daughter Janice (Lewis) Blackburn, three sisters (Fern, Rosalie, and Delores) and brother (Kenneth). Arlene was the sole surviving member of her generation of both the Lewis and White families. Arlene exemplified Christ to those around her and her family, James (Pat) Lewis, JoAnn (Floyd) Feiock, Mark (Janice) Lewis, Jeff (Judy) Lewis and son-in-law Don Blackburn were privileged to have her in their lives. Visitation will be from 3pm to 8pm Wednesday, May18, 2016 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 901 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD. The family will be present from 6pm to 8pm. Funeral service will be held at Wild Flower Presbyterian Church at 10:30am May 19, 2016. Arlene requested in lieu of flowers that donations be sent to Wildflower Presbyterian Church, 4800 E 6th St. Sioux Falls, SD 57110, with a special notation for Widows Fund.