Arlene Marilyn (Davis) Schmagel

Arlene Marilyn Schmagel, known most proudly as Mom or Grandma, entered her heavenly rest December 30, 2025. She was surrounded by her family and greeted by Jesus and those who had gone before her.

Arlene Marilyn Davis was born December 6, 1926 in Corson County to Ben and Ruth Davis. She was the middle child of five children.  Although times were hard she had wonderful memories of her childhood in Athboy.  She especially remembered singing "In the Garden" in church at age 4.

During the Great Depression, the family moved to the West Coast where they  picked crops in Washington state.  They later returned to the Lemmon area, moving to the JN Ranch, which was managed by her father.

Arlene grew up loving ranch life, learning responsibility early and finding joy in the simple pleasures of life.  She helped milk cows, often riding horseback (on Johnny) to bring them in from pasture, and fondly remembered her favorite cow, Rony.  She and her sister Carol spent long days outdoors playing dolls, while their father built them a special swing between two cottonwood trees. Arlene had fun as a majorette for the Lemmon Marching band

Arlene graduated from high school in 1944. She taught school at South Fork for 2 years and then worked at First National Bank in Lemmon where she met William H. "Bill" Schmagel. The two were married on April 30, 1950 and had 3 children.  The family moved to Wishek, ND in 1962 for a better job. Arlene was active in church, teaching Sunday school using flannel graph and starting a children's group singing fun songs. After a year in Aberdeen, the family moved to Rapid City in 1974.

Arlene loved her house on Minnekahta Drive and was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church. Health issues caused her to move to Clarkson Health Care in 2019. The family would like to thank the staff at Clarkson for the wonderful care they provided.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents Ben and Ruth Davis, sisters Laurel (Junis) Storry and Lois (Dick) Ward.  She is survived by her children: Karen (Lyle) Pederson, Shari (Larry) Caffee and Bill(Pam) Schmagel, Grandchildren: Sam (Crystal) Pederson, Josh Caffee, Jon Pederson, Jessie (Andrew) Warren, Daniel (Carissa) Schmagel, Jonah (Jada) Schmagel, David (Miranda) Schmagel. Great grandchildren, Sawyer, Parker, Maddie and William Pederson, Jackson and Kaden Caffee and Holden, Avery and Noah Warren. Sister Carol( Gordon) Nelson and brother Lowell (Jan) Davis plus many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 4:00 until 6:00pm, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Funeral services will offered on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Calvary Lutheran Church, in Rapid City, at 10:30am, followed by interment at Black Hills National Cemetery.

A memorial has been established.