ARLENE E. POTOCNIK

Arlene E. Potocnik, 83, formerly of Gilbert, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 at her residence in Dunnellon, Fla.

Arlene was born on Feb. 13, 1929 in Norbeck, S.D., to Stephen and Lois (Alexander) Steffenson.

She grew up on Lougee Lake near Merrifield, Minn., and attended Ossipee Country School. The family moved to Brainerd in 1942, where she graduated from Brainerd High School in 1945. She was a graduate of Brainerd Junior College in 1947 and Hamline University in 1949. Arlene was a high school mathematics teacher in the Gilbert School District in the early 1950s. She married Raymond Potocnik on July 4, 1951 in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert. They resided in Elcor and Gilbert where they raised their family until retiring to Florida in the mid 1980s. They had a family cabin on Bass Lake for over 40 years that was the focal point of many family events and activities during summer months.

Arlene was a very active community volunteer throughout her life. She was a Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts Leader, Blueline Club board member, Meals on Wheels volunteer, catechism teacher, Catholic Council of Women member and volunteered on many committees at St. Joseph's Church. In Florida she was an elementary school reading volunteer in Dunnellon and was active in the Blessed Trinity Catholic Church's Brother's Keeper social service ministry in Ocala and for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Raymond; brother Merlyn, and son-in-law Dick Ratai.

Arlene is survived by her four children, Margaret Ratai, Mountain Iron, Minn., Rae (Brian) Lund, Ocala, Fla., Joe (Laurie) Potocnik, El Paso, Texas, Frank (Maggie) Potocnik, Eagan, Minn.; seven grandchildren, Dawn (Gary) Savela, Allen (Melissa) Ratai, Abigail (Adam) Luecken, Matthew Potocnik, Michael Potocnik, Ryan Potocnik, Shane Potocnik; four great-grandchildren, Macy Savela, Hali Savela, Dylan Potocnik and Ian Luecken; two siblings, sister Shirley Berquist, Aitkin, Minn., and brother, Lyle (Carole) Steffenson, Nisswa, Minn.

MEMORIAL MASS: 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert. Family visitation will be in the church one hour prior to the service. Burial was at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Gilbert Public Library or Brother's Keeper, 2 SW Fort King St., Ocala, FL 34474 are preferred.

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