Arlene B. Bird

Arlene B. Bird, age 87, passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at a local care center.  A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at Leganger Lutheran Church in Toronto, SD.  She will be buried next to her late husband at a private burial at Rose Hill Cemetery in Clark, SD.

Arlene Bernice Hanson Bird was born on July 9, 1937, at the Joe Smith farm northwest of Clark, SD, to Sigurd and Chrisine (Kloster) Hanson. She was the youngest of 10 children. She attended Garfield 11, a one-room school, for eight years and then graduated from Clark High School in 1955. She participated in school activities: band, glee club, mixed chorus, and school plays. She often told stories of working at Baldwin’s ice cream store, making $.35 per hour.

On July 28, 1955, she married William (Bill) Collins Jr. at the Clark Center Lutheran Church northwest of Clark. The couple set up housekeeping in Yakima, WA, and spent five years, and three of the couple's children- Gary, Linda, and Brian, were born in Yakima. In January 1960, they returned to Clark, where their other children were born. The couple later divorced.

In July 1970, Arlene began her career with the US Postal Service. She started as a part-time clerk and later became Clark's city carrier. She also served as the Officer in Charge in Turton, SD, and a Mail Handler in the City of Watertown. Finally, in July 1990, she was sworn in as Postmaster of Toronto, SD, where she remained until her retirement in July 1997.

She remarried William (Bill) Bird on November 10, 1990, and they resided in Toronto, SD, until his passing on February 10, 2013. They spent many winters in the warmer climates of Texas. She enjoyed sewing of all kinds, including embroidery, cross-stitch, and crocheting. She always completed word searches in magazines, sudoku, and other puzzles. However, her greatest enjoyment was when the grandkids and great-grandkids came by.

Arlene’s faith was very important to her, and she was an active member of the Toronto Leganger Lutheran Church and still participated in the yearly service at the Clark Center Lutheran Church in Clark.

She is survived by five of her children: Linda Wells, Pawhuska, OK; Brian Collins, Lewiston, ID; Carol Dix, Doland, SD; Mark Collins (Belen), Apache Junction, AZ; and Joan Grohs (Kelly), Aberdeen, SD, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her parents, all her brothers and sisters, and her oldest son, Gary.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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