Arlene G. Grimes, 87, peacefully entered into eternal life on Sunday, March 18, 2012 in Mesa, AZ. Arlene, the daughter of Augustenius and Mena (Bruflat) Hjermstad, was born in Wallace, SD on June 23, 1924. She had 2 younger brothers (Ardell (Sam), deceased 1995 and Dellis, deceased 2007) and a sister Marcella (Marcy) currently living in FL and NY. She graduated from Bradley HS and completed a teaching degree at Northern States Teacher College. On Sept. 20, 1942, Arlene married Phillip L. Grimes in Lily, SD. For several years they lived at and worked the family farm near Lily until they moved to Henry, SD where Arlene was a 1-room school teacher and Phillip managed the Henry grain elevator. Their son Dale was born in 1948 and in 1953 they moved to Watertown, SD to provide Dale with better schooling. It was in Watertown that Arlene began a 30-year career in life insurance with a position at Midland National Life. Phillip began his banking career at the 1st Citizens Bank of Watertown. In 1961, the family moved to Richfield, MN to pursue better career opportunities. Arlene began working at Security Life Insurance in downtown Minneapolis and Phillip began his career at Richfield Bank & Trust. In 1980, Arlene and Phil bought a 2nd home at Fountain of the Sun (FOS) in Mesa, AZ and within a few years, had sold their Bloomington, MN home and permanently retired to FOS. They became very active in the FOS Country Club and held many officer positions there as they pursued their golf passion. Traveling was also a favorite activity of theirs with trips to Europe and Caribbean cruises, as well as numerous road trips throughout the country. Phillip passed away in 1992, but Arlene kept busy with her golf, oil painting, and bridge. Her many close friends in AZ, Canada, and the Midwest were a great joy to her and kept her company in her later years. Arlene is survived by her sister, Marcy, her son Dale, grandson Jason, granddaughter Jaime Thiem, and great-grandchildren Michael and Michelle Thiem. The memorial service will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 612 S. Ellsworth Rd., Mesa, AZ 85208 at 1:00 pm, Saturday, March 24, 2012 with a reception to follow at the church. Arlene’s ashes will be interred next to Phillip at Mountain View Cemetery in Mesa.