Arles Ihrke

Arles Ihrke, age 79, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Wednesday (December 9th) at First Care Hospital in Fosston following a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday (December 14th) at the Fosston Baptist Church in Fosston with Pastor Skip Hansen officiating. Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 PM with a 5:00 PM prayer service on Sunday (December 13th) at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Arles Ralph Ihrke was born April 27th, 1930 at Bristol, South Dakota to parents Ralph and Gladys (Bury) Ihrke. The family moved to rural Lengby, MN later that year where Arles lived for most of his life. He attended school at several country schools, graduating from high school in Mahnomen where he was an outstanding football player. He earned a scholarship to UND, which he declined to help his family due to his father's failing health.On June 5th, 1950 he married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Huber and together they raised seven children.Arles was employed in various aspects of farming including raising registered Guernsey dairy cows and making maple syrup on the family farm, "Maple Shadows Guernsey Farm". In his retirement he worked at several part time jobs and still worked summers maintaining the rest stop at Lengby.Arles loved spending time with his family drinking coffee, playing cribbage, hunting, fishing and going to the Dairy Queen. He was active at Fosston Baptist Church; volunteered with Relay for Life and the Library Arts Center as well as calling Bingo at Midway. He and Margaret were honored to be chosen as a Heritage Couple. No summer visit to their home was complete without a tour of his large garden, raspberries and flowers. He "actively watched" local sports on the radio station and loved to watch the Twins and Vikings. He was a master at the lost art of visiting. Deer hunting and sausage making was a highlight of the year and he went from his deer stand to the hospital in mid November to be diagnosed with cancer.On Wednesday, December 9, 2009 Arles passed away at First Care Hospital in Fosston, MN following a short illness at the age of 79 years.He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret of Fosston; Children, Willis (Theresa) of Lengby, MN; Barbara Ihrke of Marion, IN; Bennett (Jan) of Blair, NE; Diane Ihrke of Fergus Falls, MN; Alan (Jan) of Duluth, MN; Joyce (Peter) Rairdon of Cass Lake, MN; 17 grandchildren and 6 great grand children. Arles was preceded in death by his parents, his brother and three sisters; his son Robert and his grandson Jeremy.Arles and his coffee will be greatly missed.