D. Arleen Niemi (Buffalo)'s Obituary
Dorothy Arleen Niemi, daughter of J.W. Dilley and Jean (Craig) Dilley, was born on December 23, 1946 in Moberly, Missouri and passed away on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at Lexington Extended Care in Lexington, South Carolina. She was at the time of her passing 74 years, 10 months, and 17 days of age.
Arleen spent her early life in Missouri and graduated from Hillcrest High School in Springfield, Missouri. She married the love of her life, Kenneth Niemi, on December 7, 1968 in Kansas City, Missouri, and to this union two children were born. While her children were young, she was a stay-at-home mom and babysat to supplement the family’s military income. After moving back to Missouri several years later, she began teaching at Mallory Elementary School in Buffalo, Missouri.
Arleen was a lover of Jesus. She taught Sunday School and VBS; and raised her children in church. She would sing hymns while cooking and cleaning the house. She was an avid cross-stitcher and crocheter. She also loved to read and to write her own stories.
Arleen was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Niemi; her parents; one brother, Johnny Dilley; sister, Joan Delzell; and two brothers-in-law, Bill Phillips and Bill Powers. She is survived by her two children, Brian Niemi and wife Janet of Waldorf, Maryland, Karyn Howard and husband Jason of Lexington, South Carolina; one brother, Jimmy Dilley and wife Marilyn of Olathe, Kansas, two sisters, Patricia Geiszler of Ash Grove, Missouri, Sandy Maupin and husband Ron of Big Spring, Texas; Les Niemi and wife Yoko of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Twila Powers of Springfield, Missouri; three grandsons, Matthew Niemi, Michael Howard, and Timothy Niemi; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Arleen was loved by all who knew her. Family and friends remember her loving and beautiful smile, her sense of humor, and her laugh. She will be missed, but there is comfort that this is not “good-bye” just “see you soon!”
Services for Arleen will be Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Cantlon-Otterness & Viets Funeral Home in Buffalo, Missouri. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow the service at the Memorial Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Buffalo, Missouri.
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