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Arthur Tuttle
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Theresa Arens

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YANKTON, S.D. — Theresa Arens, 91, Yankton, S.D., died June 3, 2020, at her home.

A private funeral Mass with live streaming was June 9 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, with the Rev. Fr. Larry Regynski as Celebrant. Burial followed in Sacred Heart

Burial followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Drive up window visitation was Monday at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton.

Theresa was born Oct. 12, 1928, to Bernard and Mary (Wiepen) Brand in rural Orient, S.D. They returned to the family farm in St. Helena in 1940. There she graduated from District 17, which was located at the end of their driveway. She married Ben Arens July 8, 1946, in St. Helena. In 1948, Ben and Theresa moved back to her childhood farm at Orient, S.D, where they farmed for 50 years and raised their family together through the good times and the bad. Ben and Theresa were blessed with 13 children. In 1994, Ben and Theresa retired and moved to Yankton.

Theresa enjoyed playing cards, in particular Sheepshead, with family and friends. In retirement, Theresa remained active. Ben and Theresa enjoyed traveling together. She was a member of The Center and worked in the kitchen for many years. Her priorities were faith and family: she participated in Catholic Daughters and Right to Life events and spent countless hours with her grandchildren, especially by attending their musical and sporting events.

Theresa is survived by her 12 children: eight sons, Vern, Bill, Len (Donna), Mike (Tara), Jim (Donna), Tom (Terri), and Paul, all of Yankton, S.D.; Louie (Michelle), Orient, S.D.; and four daughters, Delores Ballert, Lead, S.D.; Mary (Jim) Suing, Fordyce; Rita (Mark) Nelson, Mission Hill, S.D.; and Kathy (Paul) Hejna, Yankton, S.D.; 29 grandchildren, 36 greatgrandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Liz Brand; and many nieces and nephews.

Theresa is preceded in death by her husband, Ben; one son, Joe; one son-in-law, Paul Ballert; and two daughters-in-law, Sandy and Carol Arens; one brother, John Brand; two sisters, Jean Mueller and Henrietta Arens; and three brothers and three sisters in their childhood.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers memorials can be made to The Center, 900 Whiting Drive, Yankton, SD 57078.