Arletta Lorraine Christiansen

Arletta was born on August 22, 1927, to John and Lisetta (Sinow) Derner, on the Derner farm outside Aspinwall, Iowa, and she was born again into the family of God through baptism at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, Iowa, in 1929. She served her country in the Second World War as a civilian air traffic controller in South Carolina.

Arletta met her husband, Gail, through a pen pal program for men serving in the war. They married on Gail's birthday, March 5, 1946, and moved to Spokane in 1947. As longtime residents of Spokane, they were active members of St. John's Lutheran and later Holy Cross Lutheran churches. Arletta was very involved in serving her Lord through the church as an altar guild member, by assisting the office staff with Sunday bulletins and mailings, and various other church activities. She was faithful in attendance, both in worship and Bible study, always growing in her faith and trust in Christ Jesus.

In her professional life Arletta worked as a bookkeeper for Pratt Furniture. Later she was a medical claims administrator for Aetna Insurance and United Administrators. Arletta and Gail celebrated 54 years of marriage during which they enjoyed dancing, playing cards, traveling, and raising their children. Gail passed away in 2000.

Arletta was called to her eternal rest peacefully on August 8 after a long battle with COPD and its complications. She is mourned by her children, David (Jane) Christiansen of Chattaroy, Washington, and Renee (Larry) Cebula of Spokane; five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, one great-grandson; her sister Colleen Eich of Sun City, Arizona; and her numerous friends and relatives. Arletta looked forward to seeing her Savior, and is now experiencing what St. Paul meant when he said, "To depart and be with Christ is better by far" (Philippians 1:23) than remaining here. We look forward with joy to seeing her again when the Lord returns on that great and glorious day of resurrection.