Thief River Falls
- Arlen Merrill, 49, died Saturday, December 2, 2000 at Northwest
Medical Center in Thief River Falls. 
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, December 6) at Redeemer Lutheran Church with Rev. Galen Sylvester officiating. Joyce Halbasch will be the organist. Casketbearers will be Kyle Syverson, Tom Eggerud, Walter Leach Jr., Mike Skibicki, Donald Faus, Gerald Saba, Shannon Leach and Larry Kotrba. Honorary casketbearers will be James Welch and Harold Leach. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls.
Visitation was held Tuesday, December 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to services at the church.
Arlen Merrill was born on June 30, 1951 in Thief River Falls, the son of Robert Morris and Lena Louise (Raasch) Merrill. He was baptized at Telemarken Lutheran Church and confirmed at Ekelund Lutheran Church at rural Goodridge. He grew up in the Goodridge area and attended Goodridge School. He served in the U.S. Navy.
On September 26, 1972, Arlen was united in marriage to Marcia Faye Leach at Dorothy. He was employed by Pennington County, Thief River Grain Elevator, the City of Thief River Falls and most recently with School District 564.
Arlen was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church.
He enjoyed mowing the lawn, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, working in his shop at his home and especially spending time with his family, four grandchildren and friends.
Arlen is survived by his wife; three sons, Chad Arlen (special friend Gena Kotrba), Robert Lee (Delanie) and Jesse Rae Merrill, all of Thief River Falls; four grandchildren; a brother, Richard Gary Merrill of Alvarado; two sisters, Mable Alvina (Alvin) Anderson and Margie Ann Rutz, both of Thief River Falls; his father-in-law, Walter Leach of Thief River Falls; a sister-in-law; two brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ernest Merrill; his grandparents, Jesse and Annie Merrill; his mother-in-law, Helene Leach; and two brothers-in-law. A00003B2000DC06