Arvalene Vedvik, 79, of rural Mt. Sterling passed away early Saturday morning, June 30, 2012 at the Bethel Home in Viroqua, where she was a resident since May 5, 2012.
She was born on October 31, 1932, on Nottingham Ridge to Melvin “Buddy” and Anna (Everson) Skrede. She was baptized and confirmed at the Bad Axe Lutheran Church at Purdy, and later shared her musical talents with the Sunday School there. She attended elementary school at the Nottingham School in Jefferson Township and graduated from Viroqua High School in 1950. She attended Coleman Vocational School, La Crosse, and Lutheran Bible Institute, Minneapolis, Minn. On June 8, 1968, she married Jacob Vedvik at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua. They farmed in rural Ferryville and later moved to rural Mt. Sterling. She was a member of the Utica Lutheran Church.
Arvalene worked as a teller at First National Bank in Viroqua for five a half years, a receptionist at the Evangelical Lutheran Church Youth Office in Minneapolis, Minn. for three years, the Parish Office Worker at First Lutheran Church in Onalaska for five a half years, the Office Manager in the Vice President of Student Affairs Office at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa for three years, a teller and bookkeeper at Ferryville State Bank, Ferryville for five and a half years, the Registrar at Sugar Creek Bible Camp, rural Ferryville for 12 year, Retired Senior Volunteer Program for Crawford County for four years, Bethel Home, Viroqua and Westby for five years and was also a greeter at Cabela’s in Prairie du Chien for five years. She organized Intergenerational Folk Fairs at area schools. Genealogy was an important part of her life. She enjoyed tracing her Norwegian family heritage and traveled to Norway nine times. She was the Newsletter Editor of Nordfjorlag for many years.
Arvalene is survived by her husband, Jacob of 44 years; sister-in-law, Bernelle Skrede, Viroqua; brother-in-law, Harold A. (Meredith) Vedvik; rural Seneca; eight nieces and nephews, Bernadine (David) Hornby, Mark Skrede, Bethany (Eric) Vold, Harold R. Vedvik, Randy (Janet) Vedvik, Teri (John) Swanson, Mark Roemer and Robert (Janet) Roemer as well as many other relatives and friends.
Arvalene was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Arvid M. Skrede; nephew, David Skrede; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Margaret and Howard Roemer and a niece, Marcia (Roemer) Connelly.
Blessed be the memory of Arvalene M. Vedvik.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Utica Lutheran Church. The Rev. Dr. Steven Fossum officiated with burial in the church cemetery. Friends called on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua. Online condolences may be offered at www.vossfh.com.
The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua assisted the Vedvik family.
