Quoting Bette Davis, Wendell Erdmann has been heard to say, “Old age ain’t for sissies,” and his wife, Arlene Bellows Erdmann, was definitely not a sissy. Having fought an amazing fight against old age, she has now relinquished her role and left us to continue in her place. She passed quietly in her sleep on July 15, 2018 at the age of eighty-five.
She and Wendell had just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Wendell and Arlene were married on July 1, 1953 in the Manti LDS temple. Arlene once described the ceremony as a special event including simply the two of them and the sealer; following which they had lunch in the temple cafeteria before returning to Springville to set up their home.
Together they raised six unique and intelligent children: Kenneth, Larry, Jim, Jeff, Karen, and Linda. Arlene valued the importance of education, instilling that love in each of her children. She encouraged them to read and provided them with a home library full of books on literature, history, and geography.
She shared her talents in the kitchen with her children as well teaching them to enjoy family recipes and the produce grown in their garden. She also had a passion for music and enabled each child to choose a musical instrument to learn. She was quite proud of her children and had a great love for her family.
Arlene was born on September 4, 1932 in Lake Shore, Utah to Samuel Arthur Bellows and Electa Drollinger. She grew up in Dividend, Utah where she was close to her brother, Ray Bellows. As a teenager, Arlene became the drummer for a dance band she formed with some other young ladies.
They called themselves the DDT’s. They had many opportunities to tour the Tintic Mining area and surrounding region. She later joined the Payson High School band from where she graduated in 1950.
Following high school, Arlene went on to attend BYU and obtain an Associate’s degree in Stenography. Her first job was as a secretary at Strawberry Water Users, a local irrigation company. Though after marrying Wendell, she took on the secretarial duties of the family business: Erdmann Electric.
Arlene showed love and kindness to others through her thoughtful acts of service. She spent much of her time caring for elderly family members or tending her grandchildren. She once said that the reason she had lived so long was because her grandchildren kept her alive.
She often put together small surprises designed simply to bring smiles to others’ faces. Her children recall being fussed over with Vicks treatments and chicken soup when they were sick. And anyone staying over at the house would be treated the next morning with a home cooked, hot breakfast.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 20, 2018 at 11 a.m. in the Spring Creek 3rd Ward Chapel at 55 N. Main in Springville. There will be a viewing held Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South in Springville and Friday at the Chapel from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services. Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent at www.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
