Arlene Elaine Perala, 89, of Owatonna, died Friday, May 16, 2014 at Homestead Hospice House. She was born July 19, 1924 in Nerstrand, Minnesota the daughter of Elmer and Alice (Haugen) Ellefson. She graduated from Owatonna High School with the class of 1942, and was a member of the original OHS Carolers, which is still in existence today. After high school she was employed at LD Smith Company in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Arlene married Toivo Perala on May 6, 1944 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Sawyer, WI. The couple moved to Owatonna in 1949 from upper MI where they lived for several years until moving to Windom in 1958. Toivo died in 1996 and Arlene continued to live in Windom until moving back to Owatonna in 2005. Arlene was a homemaker, but was employed for seventeen years as a baker at Highland Elementary school in Windom, until retiring in 1984. Through her life she was active in church and community activities. Arlene enjoyed teaching Sunday school, and was a charter member of the Windom American Lutheran Church Altar Guild. Arlene enjoyed needlework, knitting, crocheting, quilting, and counted cross stitch. She is survived by her four children Martene Olson of San Jose, CA, Carolyn Hultquist of Owatonna, Shelden (and Cheryl) Perala of Boise, ID, and Warren (and Cheryl) Perala of Crookston. She is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, twenty seven great grandchildren, and one sister Janet (and Cliff) Mc Donald of Owatonna, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters, three brothers, a great granddaughter, and son in law Larry Hultquist. Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home on Wednesday May 21, 2014 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and at Trinity Lutheran Church on Thursday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Funeral services will be held Thursday May 22, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church with Intern Pastor Christopher Leach officiating. Interment will be in the St. John Cemetery in Owatonna. Memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Windom American Lutheran Church Altar Guild. Visitation: 05/21/2014 17:00 05/21/2014 20:00 Service: one hour prior to the service at the church 05/22/2014 11:00