Obituary of Dorothy Ruby Aarhus

Dorothy Aarhus, age 86, passed away peacefully at her home in Chandler, AZ on January 15, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. A private family service will be held on January 21, 2021 at Falconer Funeral Home in Gilbert, AZ with burial to follow. Dorothy Ruby Sletto was born Friday, July 13, 1934 to Oscar and Selma (Kamrud) Sletto. She was born in a car on the way to the midwife in Bottineau, North Dakota. Later that fall, after her Dad had just experienced total crop failure, he stated that she was "the best crop" he could ever have. As their only child, she was very welcomed in their lives. Dorothy grew up on a farm near Overly, ND until 1944 when she and her parents moved to Bottineau, ND. As a young girl, she enjoyed being outdoors helping her Dad with farm work. She was very close with her Mom as well and considered her to be her best friend. She also liked being with her grandma, Dordei Sletto, after whom she was named. As an only child, her animals were her companions. She especially loved dogs and horses. In 1949, she and her parents invited Christ into their lives at a tent meeting in Bottineau, ND. She graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in Fergus Falls, MN in 1952. Her first job out of high school was at the Farmer"s Home Administration in Steele, ND. She married Ardeen Larson on November 27, 1953 in Rolette, ND. Together they had three daughters and one son. They operated a dairy farm north of Bottineau where she worked hard, helping milk cows, gardening, canning, baking, cooking, cleaning, and raising four children. In the early years of her marriage, she also worked in secretarial positions in Bottineau. Their marriage later ended in divorce. She married James Aarhus on July 8, 1972 and they lived in Minot, ND until 1985 when they moved to Arizona, where they have lived since then. She was famous in the family for her bread, buns, pumpkin pie, banana bread, and her love of chocolate. In her younger years she loved singing with others in church and playing piano. She was a great Mom, good listener, tender hearted, and was exceptionally good at comforting us when we were sick or hurt. She was very faithful to pray for her family by name daily. Her favorite Bible verses from the Living Bible are 2 Timothy 2:13 "Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, he remains faithful to us and will help us, for He cannot disown us who are a part of Himself and He will always carry out his promises to us" and Philippians 4:6 "Don"t worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and don"t forget to thank Him for His answers." She was not afraid of change "" her belief was that "Adversity is directional" and she sought to find meaning and purpose in the difficult situations of life. Her stated philosophy of life was: "I want to walk quietly through this life without attention on me "" encouraging and helping others, without my personal distractions hindering me from doing that. Oh yes, - and I love to make people laugh, or at least smile!" Dorothy is survived by her husband, James of 48 years, daughter, Jacalyn (Blair) Galbreath, of Simi Valley, CA; son, Roger (Nancy) of Bismarck ND, and daughters, Karen (Scot) Feland of Chandler, AZ, and Naomi (Carmen) Haugan, of Tempe AZ; grandchildren, Kristen, Cindy, and Trevor (Gege) Galbreath, Stephen (Maddie) Larson, David (Amariah) Larson, Jonathan Larson, Elizabeth (Nick) Sundby, and Josiah Larson, Heidi (Jake) Nyhoff, Andre (Jen) Feland, Daniel Feland, Jordan (Paige) Haugan, and Larissa Haugan; great-grandchildren, Bentley, May, Lincoln and baby boy Nyhoff (due May 2021), Ande and Theodore Feland, Joshua Haugan, and Finli Sundby.