Arlene Louise Duty

Arlene Louise Duty, 82, was relieved of her work on November 30, 2020, due to complications from dementia. She was born October 1, 1938, in Great Falls, Montana, to Lempi S. (Carlson) and Severt E. Maki. She joined siblings, Mildred and Lloyd on the ranch between Ulm and Cascade. A talented and diverse musician, she enjoyed playing Finnish tunes on the accordion and piano, and later would play the French Horn in high school. She loved being a cheerleader for the Cascade Badgers. A favorite pastime was hitching a ride to Great Falls with her sister, Millie so she and girlfriends could go dancing while Millie worked as a nurse at Columbus. They had to always save a dime by the end of the night, however, to call for their ride. More than once she remembers either having to stay over or hike all the way out to the hospital! In 1956, her girlfriend Lorraine Steffani introduced her to Robert Duty from Moore, Montana, who was newly returned from Army service in Korea and working as a lineman in the area. They married after high school graduation on June 19, 1957. They relocated to Conrad where Bob worked for the Montana State Department of Transportation, for seven years. During that time, Vickie Lynn, Lindy Jo, and Rodney Jay were born. Upon moving the family to Great Falls, Arlene worked for First Interstate Bank and Northern School Supply until she retired. Never one to sit idle, she organized family and work trips, a favorite being to Calgary, Alberta, for the 1988 Winter Olympics. She enjoyed supporting her kids’ and grandkids’ pursuits from baseball and drill team, to their summer jobs and college educations. One of her favorite activities in addition to her own beauty and fashion regimes, was when women from the extended family would call upon her weekly to curl and set their hair. It was only many years later that we discovered that she had probably wanted to be a beautician! She kept an impeccable home and loved to entertain and socialize. Her Christmas Eve Tom and Jerry’s will be missed. She and Bob enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing, running, golfing, and being involved grandparents. She took daily walks around her favorite neighborhood near Meadowlark Country Club or on the north-west side with long-time friend, Barb Anderson. She made so many friends on those walks. An avid feminist, she had an ironic obsession with Fox News. Late life pastimes were making phone calls and watching golf. Arlene was a fierce mama/grama bear as was evidenced by bullies she took on (all you need is an equalizer, she’d say) and how she saw the kids through some super rough patches. Her largest gift, the forgoing of her retirement, would be given when she and Bob would be begin parenting again when their daughter died prematurely in 1998. She leaves behind a legacy of compassion, tenacity, and a few broken hearts. Arlene was preceded in death by her daughter, Lindy; sister, Mildred (Millie) Webb; parents; sister-in-law, Ethel Maki, and nephew Larry Webb. She is survived by her husband, Bob of Great Falls; children, Vickie (Jack) Duty of Reno, NV and Rod (Heather) Duty of Choteau; grandchildren, Casey (Lindsey) Craigle of Belgrade, Dr. Bailey (Bob) Cannon Dean of Reno, NV, Marie Cannon of Reno, NV, Will (Rae) Sutherland of Missoula, Ellie (Reid) Fleshman of Dutton, Trent Duty of Dutton, Joey Stockdill of Missoula, Jake Duty of Bozeman, and Claira Duty of Choteau; great-grandchildren, Kadyn Craigle, Qwinlynn Craigle, Delaney Martinez, AJ Martinez, Cashman Craigle, Bradley Fleshman, Emmeline Fleshman, and River Cannon Dean; great-nephew, Hank (Deb) Webb, niece, Cindi Krone and her children, Tara Krone, Shaylin Heckman, and Chase Krone (Alissa); as well as, numerous nieces and nephews around the country. Her brother, Lloyd Maki resides at the family ranch. Cremation has taken place and no services are planned, per her wishes. The family remains grateful to Benefis Peace Hospice and the expert, compassionate care they gave her in a beautiful and accommodating setting affectionately known as “The Ritz.” Memorials are suggested there. Regards to the family may be sent to PO Box 1306, Choteau, MT 59422. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.OConnorFuneralHome.com.