Arlen Jay Bartels Obit

ARLEN JAY BARTELS, 97, of Deerwood, passed away on Nov. 5, 2026, at Golden Horizons in Aitkin. He was born on Nov. 12, 1928, in Ellendale, ND to Louis and Wilma (Skaggs) Bartels. He was united in marriage to Ione Joyce on June 22, 1952, in Staples. He was a retired purchasing agent for Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD, with 25 years of service. He is survived by two sons, Daniel (Kelly) Bartels of Deerwood, David (Shelly) Bartels of Hazel, SD; two daughters, Debra (Tom) Brady of Ironton and DeeAnn Bartels of Deerwood; one brother, William (Bonnie) Bartels of Centennial, CO; one sister, Rayma (Jack) Smith of Frederick, SC; nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death are his parents; his first wife Ione Joyce in 1994, his second wife, Iyone in 2025 and one sister, Nancy Steltzer. Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, at the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday. Burial will be at the Scandia Cemetery in Deerwood. Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby. www.koopfuneralhome.com