Alden, Jeannette C. (Arrasmith)

in Lake Okoboji. She moved to Spencer in 1944 and graduated from high school there in 1946. Jeannette attended Iowa State Teachers College in Spencer and then enrolled at Northwestern Bible School and College in Minneapolis. While at Northwestern, she met and married Don Alden. She graduated from the 4-year college with a B.A. in 1954.

Jeannette felt a strong call to Christian ministry which she lived out as a mother, pastor's wife, Bible and Sunday school teacher, church secretary, Pioneer Girls leader, and counselor at Camp Cherith in northern Minnesota. Together with Don, she started and staffed a “Mother's Day Out” program at First Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids, allowing her to care for the small children who were her “precious jewels.”

While a pastor's wife at First Baptist Church, Independence, Iowa, Jeannette worked at the district school board office as bookkeeper and volunteered at the local hospital. From 1977-1990, Jeannette served as resident director for Crest Group Home in Cedar Rapids (Crest Services), a transitional housing facility for adults with developmental disabilities related to American Baptist Homes of the Midwest. She retired with Don to their farm southwest of Shellsburg in 1990. She had resided at West Ridge Care Center since October 2006.

Jeannette is survived by Don, her husband of nearly 62 years; and three daughters, Alice “Jeanne” Alden (Bruce Anderson), Laura Alden (Barry Sawtelle) and Ruth Alden (Richard Glick), who live in Minnesota, Pennsylvania and California respectively. Her seven grandchildren, Andrew, Elizabeth (Douglas Flashinski), Rachel, Joseph, Abigail (Joseph Schwartz), Ethan and Andrea are her legacy, as are great-grandchildren, Molly, Lydia and Nevan. “Dimples,” the Aldens' terrier, named by Jeannette, will miss her too.

Besides family, church and work activities, Jeannette traveled widely. She visited all 50 states and spent time in seven Latin American and South American countries from Mexico to Patagonia, the Straits of Magellan, and Tierro Del Fuego. She also toured Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Jeannette and Don marked their 50th wedding anniversary in 2001 on a cruise to Alaska accompanied by 15 family members. Family took her to celebrate her 80th birthday at Minnesota Twins spring training in Fort Myers, Fla.

Jeannette loved playing board games, solving puzzles, tending flowers, making handicrafts and baking goodies, especially for Christmas. She passed along her mother's Swedish heritage and traditions to her family.

Jeannette was a much-loved and loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and daughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Phyllis Comer, Dorothy Arrasmith and Norma Penelerick; and brother, Ralph Arrasmith.

The family appreciates the care provided to Jeannette by West Ridge Care Center and St. Luke's Hospital.

Online condolences may be left at: http://www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.

Published Aug. 4, 2013 in The Gazette

Reminder notice published Aug. 9, 2013 in The Gazette