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   Arlene Lucille Rosenberry, 89, of Walker, Minnesota passed away August 3, 2026, in Walker. Arlene DeGarmo was born June 4, 1937, at home near Boy River, MN, to Floyd and Sylvia “Babe” DeGarmo and spent her childhood in Boy River, Longville, and Brevik. Arlene grew up with her three brothers, Dwain, Kenneth, and Gary, at the intersection of the Brevik Road and what back then was Highway 34 (now Hwy. 200). She attended Longville and Walker Public Schools. Arlene developed her keen eye playing in the surrounding forest and put it to good use hunting in the fall. She cleaned cabins at resorts in the Longville and Whipholt area and lived briefly in Michigan, where she worked in a small appliance factory before returning to Minnesota.

    On August 2, 1957, she married Orville Rosenberry. After two years in the Longville area, they moved to Walker when Orv took a job at Sandy’s Super Valu. Living for several years next to the A&W Root Beer Stand and then on the east shore of Lake May, they saved up enough money to buy their first home across from the Hi-Y Drive-In Theater between Walker and Hackensack. In 1969, Arlene, Orv, and their three children moved to Sioux Falls, SD, and then to Fairmont, MN, when Orv worked as a wholesale meat seller for John Morrell & Co. They both greatly missed Walker, though, and moved back home in 1970.

   No matter where they lived, Arlene always had a large garden and took pride in providing fresh, healthy, home-grown food. She also was a prodigious canner and canned exceptionally tasty pickles, beets, beans, tomato sauce, and even venison. Her last garden was her biggest, on a hill above the house on Cass County 50. She stayed fit hauling water up the hill to keep the plants happy during the hot days of summer and shoveling the driveway and paths to various out buildings during the cold days of winter. Having music in her genes, she greatly enjoyed playing the guitar and singing country songs, especially when she got to play with her dad and brother, Kenny, or when playing with her neighbor, Betty Bennett.

   Family was always a high priority and, although not a fan of driving, Arlene was often on her way to Whipholt, Longville, Remer or Wadena to visit her parents and brothers and their families. Card games were often the focus during these trips, particularly during winter when the communal planting or weeding or harvesting of various family gardens was on hold. And the same occurred whenever family would visit her. Arlene was the consummate host, but she would rarely let anyone beat her at Scrabble. After she and Orv built their “retirement” home, it became the default gathering place for family near and far.  She was always eager to welcome her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.

   After suffering a rapid onset of memory loss in 2019, Arlene became a resident at Edgewater May Creek’s memory care facility. Amazingly, somehow, she was never angry or bitter, but instead made jokes about her terrible memory whenever friends and family would stop by. Thanks to her convivial and upbeat attitude, the May Creek staff loved her and she greatly enjoyed being the one waited on for the first time in her life. 

   Arlene was preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Sylvia DeGarmo, husband Orville Rosenberry, and Brother Dwain DeGarmo. She is survived by her brothers Kenneth and Gary; her children Donald (Joan), Barbara Markos (Joe) and Linda Larson (Leon); grandchildren Adam Markos (Rachel), Tim Markos (Alyssa) and Alex Rosenberry; and great grandchildren Gordon Markos, Eleanor Markos, Mabel Markos, and Arden Markos. A private service will be scheduled for a later date.

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