Arlene Riffle

Arlene Riffle, age 99 of Perry, passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2020 at her home in Perry, IA. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Carris Family Funeral Home & Cremation Care in Perry with visitation from 5:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in the McCook Cemetery in North Sioux City, SD on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing while attending visitation and services. Memorials will be given to Child Evangelism and Disabled American Veterans and may be left at the Carris Family Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Arlene Magnhild Riffle was born on August 27, 1921 at Concord, NE to Fred and Hilda (Swanson) Wessman. She graduated from the Concord High School and later attended the Free Church Bible School and the Moody Bible Institute. She was united in marriage to E. Gordon Riffle at Sioux City, IA on March 18, 1947. Arlene worked at Dryers Bakery, Montgomery Wards for 14 years, Fantles Department Store and provided childcare in her home and at the Free Church. She was a member of the Evangelical Free Church and president of Daughters Auxiliary Goodwill. Arlene taught Child Evangelism and Sunday School and was an avid reader and quilter. She enjoyed playing Mexican Train and Scrabble with her friends and family. In death she rejoins her husband Gordon, parents, Fred and Hilda, brothers, Eugene Wessman, as a child, and Richard Wessman, sisters, Magnhild Wessman, as an infant, Amelia Maurer and Marion Gray, daughter, Melody Klingensmith, son, Rob Riffle, son-in-law, Paul Bales and a grandson, Adam Riffle. Left to cherish Arlene's memory are her children, Merrilee Bales, and E. Jay (Rose) Riffle, daughter-in-law, Sharon Riffle, son-in-law, Dave Klingensmith, 11 grandchildren, Amy Riffle, Heidi Keller, Katie Keller, Jessica Klingensmith, Sarah Elash, Rachel Bosiak, Christa Sibbett, Aaron Bales, Ashlee Knepper and Sam Riffle, 21 great grandchildren, Joseph Pinski, Alayna Pinski, Leyton Pinski, Indiana Keller, Trace Keller, Perrin Keller, Emery Keller, Eva Keller, Vivian Keller, Summer Gross, Jayda Harrison, Charlie Elash, Ethan Bosiak, Brooklyn Bosiak, Annabelle Wilkinson, Drake Knepper, Aubrey Knepper, Robert Riffle, Lucas Riffle, Sadie Riffle and Wesley Riffle, and many nieces and nephews.