Kathryn "Sue" Arneson

Kathryn "Sue" Ann (Bilben) Arneson went home to be with her heavenly father, surrounded by her loving children, on Friday, June 17, 2022, one day shy of her 72 ^nd birthday.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 23, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 6:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt.

Sue Arneson was born June 18, 1950, in Veblen, SD, to Elvin and Betty (Warner) Bilben. At the age of two, she moved to Chicago, IL, with her parents and siblings. She attended Walsh Elementary and Harrison Technical High School. After high school, she moved to California for a brief time. In 1973, she moved back to South Dakota and took over The Web bar in Rosholt, where she met Steve Arneson. The two were united in marriage in Webster, SD, on March 17, 1975. The couple began raising their family a few miles south of Rosholt and eventually settled on the Arneson homestead where they raised six wild children that only Mama Sue could handle. Throughout the years, Sue worked various part-time jobs waitressing, tending bar, and sharing her amazing cooking skills with others at Circle K Resort and Victor Supper Club.  Her passion in life, of course, was raising her kids and becoming affectionately known as Mama Sue to all the friends her children brought around as well as anyone else that she touched with her giving heart throughout life.

Sue was known to be one tough cookie that could make her kids, husband, and anyone else that needed it straighten up with the raise of an eyebrow. Beneath that tough exterior was a loving and giving heart who was always willing to help out and be there for friends and family. Sue loved spending time with her grandchildren and there weren't many days you didn't find one or more of them hanging out at Grandma's house.

Sue was a big Chicago sports fan, especially a huge fan of her beloved Chicago Cubbies that she finally got to see win the World Series.  She enjoyed reading Stephen King books, playing Bingo with her daughter Stephanie, baking, cooking, and most of all watching her adult children and grandchildren gather together and spend time laughing, loving and living life. She also enjoyed spending the cold Northern winters in the warmth of Las Vegas.

Although too short, Sue lived a full life with plenty of stories and memories to pass on to her grandchildren.  She was a fierce mother who loved her kids with everything she had.  There's nothing she wouldn't do for them, and she always put them before herself right up until the very end.

Sue is survived by her husband of 47 years, Steve Arneson of Rosholt; sons, Bob (Kristy) Hovanec and their daughters Haylee and Heather of Lake Park, MN,  Jim (Ashley) Arneson and their children Ayden and Allison of Rosholt, and Eric (Tina) Arneson and their sons Stephen and Robert of Buffalo, MN; daughters, Stephanie (Jason) Koschney and their son Avery of Rosholt, and Lori (Dillen) Rikimoto and their children Autumn, Dayton, and Gabriel of Rosholt; grandchildren, Katlyn and Ethan of Sioux Falls, SD; and great-granddaughter, Cora.  She is also survived by brothers, Wayne Bilben of Rosholt, John Bilben of Milbank, SD, Bill Bilben of Fargo, ND, and Terry (DeeAnn) Bilben of Hankinson, ND; sister, Lynn (Lancy) Siegel of Wheaton, MN; brother-in-law, Bruce Arneson of Las Vegas, NV; sisters-in-law, Lorraine Bilben of Ortonville, MN, and Denise Bilben of Kimball, SD; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends too numerous to mention.

Waiting to welcome Sue with open arms above are her son, Luke Arneson; parents, Elvin and Betty Bilben; paternal grandparents, Simon and Inga Bilben; maternal grandparents, George and Mazie Warner; mother-and father-in-law, Luther and Betty Arneson; brothers, Mike and Elvin Bilben; and sister-in-law, Connie Birchem.