Obituary - Arlene Mae Lemmon Heppner

Arlene Mae Lemmon Heppner passed peacefully at Legacy Assisted Living Facility in Helena, MT, Thursday, April 26, 2018.

Arlene was born on July 10, 1924, in Savoy, MT, to Claude and Billie Lemmon. She graduated from Harlem High School and married Rudy Heppner on Jan. 26, 1942. Following WWII, they moved to Great Falls where they raised their five children. After raising her children, she went to Beauty College, which was always an ambition of hers.

They purchased a "weekend get-away" in Lincoln in 1967 and, after Rudy retired, they moved to Lincoln, where she opened her own beauty shop. When Rudy had a stroke in 1981, she closed her shop and took care of him for 15 years, until his death in 1996.

As luck would have it, an All-School Reunion in Harlem, MT, reunited her with Bernard Bergren, a widower and long-time family friend. They fell in love and he moved her to his home in Havre, MT. They were together for 17 years until his passing in May, 2013. She then moved to Helena to be closer to her family.

Arlene loved dancing, playing cards, Bingo, gambling, and Vince Gill. But most of all, she loved spending time with her family. She was a very beautiful, gracious and elegant lady!

Arlene was preceded in death by Rudy and Bernard; her parents, and sisters, Roberta "Bobbi" Gaethle and Verna "Sis" Klepzig.

She is survived by her children, Rosann "Rosie" (Burt, deceased) Teigen, Palmer, AK; Ramona "Mona" (Jim) Awbery, Lewistown, MT; Rhonda (Scott) Skerlock, Lincoln, MT; Rena (Bob) Spangler, Montana City, MT; and Rudy "Butch" Heppner, Helena, MT; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

She is also survived by her six stepchildren, whom she adored, Jerry (Penney) Bergren, Havre, MT; Tom (Deb) Bergren, Havasu City, AZ; Dick (Garnet) Bergren, Havre, MT; Lynne (Gary) Nordrum, Bay City, ID; Randy (Janice) Bergren, Havre, MT; and Clea Bergren, Havre, MT.

All 11 children refer to themselves as "The Heppgrens" in honor of the many happy years that Arlene and Bernard spent together.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to hospice and to the staff at Legacy Assisted Living Facility. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of St. Peter's Hospital or to the charity of the donor's choice.

A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. May, 2, 2018, at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave., with a reception to follow the service at the Eagles Lodge, 801 N. Fee St., Helena.

A private burial will be held at a later date. Please visit http://www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Arlene.