Arlene Emmalyn Dobson passed into the arms of her Savior August 18, 2023 in Frederic, Wisconsin.

She was born in Dayton, Oregon on January 10, 1931 to Raymond and Margaret (nee Myers) Brigan.

Until about the age of 5, she lived with her family on Grand Island in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. She would tell the story that the house on the island would flood in the spring and her dad would tie the house to the trees to keep it from floating away. They then moved to Mahtowa, Minnesota where her dad quickly put up a cabin before winter. The logs were not dry and she said that after they dried “you could throw a cat through the wall anywhere!” She lived in Mahtowa until after her mom passed away when she was 16. She then went to Iowa and lived with relatives. There, in Grundy Center, she met Lyle Dobson. His story was that he picked her up on a street corner; actually, she was walking home from work and he saw her and stopped and asked her out. They were married on May 6, 1950, in Grundy Center, Iowa.

In 1971 they moved with their family to Spooner, WI. Along with Lyle, she worked the ServiceMaster business they owned. She also worked for a time at Nick’s restaurant cleaning. She raised 5 kids and then helped with the grandkids and great-grandkids. She always had a houseful on Holidays and most Sundays, always putting on big meals.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ray and Maggie; her husband, Lyle; her siblings Permilla Brigan, Raymond Brigan Jr., Alfred Brigan, Naomi Brigan, and a half-brother, Rodney Brigan; her son-in-law Dean Swearingen, her daughter’s life partner Sonny Kruse, and Ricky Johnston.

She is survived by her special friend Herman Asproth; her sister, Beatrice Grangruth; children Raymond (Dorothy) Dobson, Mary Johnston, Larry (Marsha) Dobson, Susan Dobson and Jodie Benson; grandchildren Carrie (Jason) Jeffery, Aron Kessler, Sara (Ryan Heller) Kessler, Krystal (James) Hinrichs, Maggie (Brandon) Ferry, Ben (Heather) Kessler, Molly Nelson, and step-grandsons Dan Swearingen and Troy McCauley; her great-grandchildren Sheldon Stedman, Donevan Benson, Mya Benson, Emma Kessler, Brooklyhn Kessler, Tucker Brown-Kessler, Wyatt Nelson, Emmett Hinrichs, Gabriel Nelson, Emmalyn Hinrichs, and step great-grandson Zeb Swearingen. Also left to mourn her loss are Jamie Peterson and Shaine Nelson; the dads of her grandchildren Tim (Julie) Kessler and Robert (Cindy) Benson.

Graveside services will be held at a later date.

Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.

Last Update: Aug 22, 2023 12:14 pm CDT