Arlene Orth, 89, of Clarksville died on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at UnityPoint Health – Allen Memorial in Waterloo.
Arlene Karoline Orth was born on December 14, 1935, the daughter of Rudolph and Anna (Heth) Schnaidt in Beulah, ND. She graduated from Beulah High School in 1953. She later attended Wartburg College for two years in Waverly. It was then she met Merlin on a blind date. On June 19, 1960, she was united in marriage to Merlin J. Orth at Zion Lutheran Church in Beulah, ND. Following Merlin’s discharge in February in 1961, the couple returned to Waverly where they farmed in partnership with his parents. Arlene worked for Lutheran Mutual for several years, at the Waverly Sale Barn and retired from working at the Bremer County Assessor’s office.
She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Arlene enjoyed gardening, knitting and sewing, reading, baking and making ceramics.
Survivors are her three children, Ruth Leisinger of Waverly, Randy (Laura) Orth and James (Laurie) Orth; eight grandchildren, Shawn (Aubrey) Leisinger and their family, Shannon & Cameron, Grant Leisinger and his family Grant, August and Eliott, Susan (Joe) Rieden and their family Otto, Felix, Cora and Rex, Derek (Charisse) Orth and their family, Zeeva, Jaylee, Callum and Rheea, Dana Orth (Kenny Rodriguez), Julie (Joel) Inghram, Katelyn (Zane) Ziebell and their family, Kenzie, Zeke and Zeus and Eryn (Andrew) Hornberg and their family, Jack & Henry; brother, Reuben (Marilyn) Schnaidt of ND; sister, Jan Richau of ND; two-sisters-in-law, Violet Schnaidt and Janet Schnaidt; in-laws, Norma Hesterberg of IL, Ron (Darlys) Orth of IA, Sue Orth of IA and Marvin (Cate) Orth of IA.
She was preceded in death her husband, Merlin Orth in 1988; son-in-law, Kevin Leisinger; her parents, Rudolph & Anna Schnaidt; her parents-in-law, Leo & Mabel Orth; two brothers Marvin and Delmer Schnaidt; and two brothers-in-law, Robert Hesterberg and Romaine Orth.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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