Mrs M. Arlene "Penny" Hughes Ruge

M. Arlene Nelson, only child of Ray and Viola (Marian) Nelson was born November 24, 1926 at Utica, Nebraska. Arlene attended Rosemound District 59 and Utica Public High School. There she received a four year scholarship to Kearney State Teacher's College. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Education and attended graduate school in Fine Arts.
She loved her family dearly. Her interests were her church, friends, painting, sewing and flowers.
Arlene loved the great outdoors, appreciating nature and its lovely colors. Arlene liked traveling, having been in most of the states including Alaska and Hawaii, Bahama Islands, Canada, Mexico and England. She went on a cruise through the Panama Canal. One of her most interesting travels was teaching at the Presbyterian Mission in Mwandi Zambia Africa and toured Zimbabwe and saw Victoria Falls.
Arlene was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a 50-year member of the Eastern Star, a 4-H Leader and enjoyed painting and quilting organizations.
Later in life she enjoyed doing family genealogy. She was a member of the DAR and DUV.
She married Orley "Bud" Hughes. They lived at Rose, Nebraska. Orley and Arlene were blessed with three children. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Orley, daughter, Becky and granddaughter, Carrie Anne.
After Orley passed away, she moved to Kearney, Nebraska and on to Grand Rapids, Michigan. She later moved to Atlanta, Kansas.
Arlene is survived by her daughter Barbara (Stan) McLaughlin of Omaha; son, Mark (Karen) Hughes, of Atlanta, Kansas; son-in-law, DeWayne Wicht, Kansas City, Missouri; grandchildren, Suzanne (Brian) Glendy, of Oconto; Mary (Jim) McNally, of Doniphan; Wade Hughes and Wyatt Hughes, of Atlanta, Kansas; Matt, Mark (Meredith) and Katie McLaughlin; great-grandsons, William Logan Glendy and Colter Hughes Glendy, of Oconto; Ryan (Kayla) and Zachary McNally, of Doniphan; Brooks and Harris McLaughlin, Kearney; great granddaughter, Harley Bowen, and great-great-granddaughter, Marley Bowen of Kansas City, Missouri.
Arlene passed away on November 10, 2016 at the Callaway Good Life Center in Callaway, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, eleven months and 17 days.
Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Bassett, Nebraska with Pastor Rod Heilbrun and Ken Pitkin officiating at the service. Music was provided by JoAnn Swanson with Stanley Larson singing "In The Garden" and "How Great Thou Art." The congregation sang "Amazing Grace." Casketbearers were: Brian Glendy, Jim McNally, Jimm Johnson, Mike Kuchera, Terry Kuchera and Roger Stec. Honorary bearers were: Wade Hughes, Wyatt Hughes, Logan Glendy, Colter Glendy, Ryan McNally and Zach McNally. Burial followed in the Grandview Cemetery at Long Pine, Nebraska. Memorials were suggested to the Gideon's International Bible Program. Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett was in charge of the arrangements.