Arlene  L. Nickel

The Garden City recently lost one of its finest gardeners.

Arlene Louise Nickel died with her loving daughters and husband at her side July 5, 2016, at St. Patrick Hospital. She was 82.

Arlene was born on April 30, 1934, in Butte. She was the only child of Theodore and Inez (Iehl) Rodlin. She attended Emerson Grade School and was a 1953 Butte High School graduate. She met Gus Nickel when both worked at the Miner’s Dairy in Butte, and they were married on Nov. 25, 1953, in Missoula. They have three children: Susan, Lynette and Christopher.

Arlene was a loving mother, wife, aunt and grandmother, and will be missed terribly by her family and friends. She was thoughtful and kind, and she cared more about others than she did for herself. Arlene enjoyed visiting the families of her sisters-in-law—the Fernleys and the Hatleys. Even when she was recently hospitalized, Arlene called her friend’s daughter to wish her good luck on an upcoming surgery.

In her youth, Arlene was a speed skater and played the violin.

Arlene worked as a seamstress and bookkeeper during part of her life. She loved gardening, cooking and animals. Her strawberry and raspberry patches overflowed with berries. She always entered her flowers in the Missoula County Fair.

Her children remember that Arlene made sure the family ate dinner together when Gus came home from work. Lynette loved her mother’s chicken and dumplings. One time when Susan was home from college, she complained that the dinner lacked a crunchy texture; Arlene showed her sense of humor when she handed Susan a bag of potato chips. Arlene also shared her cooking and sewing skills when she was a 4-H leader.

Arlene loved to travel. She enjoyed family camping trips in Montana and Canada. On one trip, a black bear watched Arlene cook pancakes and chased her. Arlene traveled with Susan and Gus to the European alpine countries, cities along the West and East Coasts and everywhere in-between in North America. She loved the Oregon coast and Victoria, Canada, with its beautiful gardens.

Survivors include her husband Gus, daughters and their spouses Susan Nickel (Dan Greitzer) and Lynette Nickel (David Sweeney), son Chris Nickel, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, the Iehl cousins, special childhood friends Marilyn Kaufmann, Mary Lou Hendrickson and Marjorie Strauch, and her two cats AhBoo and Jingles. She was preceded in death by her parents and many beloved cats and dogs.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Arlene’s memory to AniMeals, 1700 Rankin St., Missoula, MT 59808.

A celebration of Arlene’s life is planned this fall on the Oregon coast.

Cremation has taken place at Garden City Funeral Home & Crematory.