Arlene Pletsch

Funeral services for Arlene Bergerud Pletsch, 82, of Killdeer, will be held later this spring.


According to her wishes, cremation has taken place.


Arlene was born in Bottineau, ND, on October 5, 1930, to Tenney and Mildred (Jirikowic) Bergerud. She attended and graduated from Killdeer Public School. She continued her education at the University of North Dakota, graduating in 1953 with a bachelor of science in education. Arlene taught music in Williston for one year, and then moved to San Francisco where she worked for IBM. In 1956, Arlene and Daniel Pletsch were married. The couple spent one year in Minneapolis before moving to Ft. Bragg, NC, where daughter Karen and son Ted were born. After two years, the family returned to Stanford for a four-year residency where daughter Elaine was born. Arlene and Dan moved their family to the Denver area for three years and then settled in Portland, OR. After a divorce in 1972, she and the three children lived in Killdeer for four years. Arlene taught in Denver and Portland, and received her master’s degree from Marylhurst University in OR. She spent much of her life in Portland, and did administrative work in higher education. After her retirement in 1997 Arlene returned to Killdeer.


Arlene is survived by her children Karen (Don) Meyer and their son, Rusty, of Portland, Ted (Judy) Pletsch of Vancouver, WA, and Elaine Pletsch of Killdeer; by her brother and his wife, Marshall and Belle Bergerud of Killdeer; a niece, Kristen Bergerud of Dickinson, and her son, Ian Kubik of Dallas, TX; and two nephews Kimball (Betsy) Bergerud and their daughter, Sylvia, of Seattle; and Leif Bergerud.


Arlene was preceded in death by her parents.


Memorial contributions can be made to the High Plains Cultural Center or the American Heart Association.


Click to View Program (PDF)


Burial Date: May 24, 2013
Funeral Home Killdeer, ND

Memorial Service with a Time of Remembrance: Friday: Stevenson Funeral Home, Killdeer, ND