Arlene Ann (Schaust) Litfin, age 97 of Delano, passed away peacefully on Monday morning April 27, 2026. She was born on May 9, 1928, to Anthony and Elizabeth (Pogreba) Schaust in Delano, Minnesota.

Arlene grew up on a family farm along with nine siblings five miles west of Delano. She had regular household duties and milked cows every day as well. Arlene attended St. Peter’s Catholic Schol and District 31 Country School, before attending and graduating from Delano High School in 1946.

The 10 Schaust siblings along with some neighbors, often played ballgames, kick the can. Arlene enjoyed outdoor ice skating as well as indoor roller skating.

Growing up, Arlene enjoyed sewing, embroidery, and singing in the church choir. Her favorite entertainer was Frank Sinatra.

Arlene Schaust met Glen Litfin (parents Emil and Lydia) in the fall of 1946 at a dance in Minneapolis at the Calhoun Beach Club. The band playing that night was the Whoopee John Polka Band. Glen grew up in rural Lyndale, between Maple Plain and St. Boni. Their first date after their initial meeting was at the Round-Up in Delano. The Round-Up is now the Delano Legion Club.

They were engaged in May of 1947. They were married on November 12, 1947, at 9:00 am on a Thursday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Delano.There was no honeymoon as resources and time were tight for this new business couple.

Glen started Litfin Transfer and Excavating immediately after he came home in 1946 from his military service in WW II. Arlene joined Glen in business and managed the majority of the office side of the operation for over 50 years. Arlene was no stranger to hard work having grown up on a farm.

Before children, Arlene drove many different trucks, she unloaded cement blocks by hand, and shoveled material on jobsites. They worked together day and night growing the business. That successful business ultimately served thousands of customers. Litfin Transfer and Excavating at its peak had over 50 employees and hundreds of trucks and excavation pieces of equipment.

Their first home was in Delano where their four children were born. They moved to their second and only other home in 1963. The business office started and remained in the home the entire time.

Arlene and Glen loved to dance, specifically they liked to dance the Polka and the Waltz. They were regular Saturday night participants at ballrooms throughout the region.

As their children grew and later, they were blessed with grandchildren, Glen and Arlene could always be found at a ballgame, attending a play or a concert, or viewing a parade of a child or grandchild.

Arlene was asked in 2004 what her five favorite interests were. She responded; flowers and gardening, traveling, church choir, dancing, and entertaining.

Arlene was the ultimate entertainer. She enjoyed making everyone and anyone feel welcome and special in her home. She loved cooking and baking and went out of her way to make sure family and guests felt special and loved, and fed, in her home.

She was game for anything that involved family. No matter if it was a conversation, holiday time together, or a vacation to anywhere. She did not want to be left out and always participated to her fullest potential.

Arlene and Glen enjoyed travelling. They traveled extensively with family and friends, in particular close friends Kenny and Irene Gardner. Arlene and Glen enjoyed ocean cruises and went on over 50 cruises. Her and Glen and their young family made multiple trips in various RV’s, touring MN lakes and campsites as well as the western states. Their favorite trip together was their 25th wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii.

Arlene enjoyed card games of all kinds with family and friends. She was extremely good at Euchre, 500, as well as any other game where family was involved.

Arlene was very involved at St. Peter’s Church her entire life. She sang in the adult church choir for well over 60 years. She performed in the church musical Amal and The Night Visitors. One of her fondest choir memories was a church choir trip to Rome where they sang for the Pope. Arlene was on the funeral committee for many years and always made time to serve the greater good.

For many years, Arlene was the representative from the Delano Legion Auxiliary writing and sending cards to the sick and to families who lost a loved one.

Arlene enjoyed walking and exercising and lived a healthful lifestyle. She was a regular 5:00 am attendee for many years at the Delano Community Center. She would walk 5 miles a day all the way into her early 90’s before she was stricken by a stroke. Arlene entered many 5-K walking/running events and was a constant trophy winner in her age bracket in the Delano Steeple Chase, Waconia Nickle-Dickle Day Runs, the Jordan Heimatfest Run, and in the Excelsior Firecracker Run.

Throughout her life, Arlene loved to garden and spend time in the yard. She was a constant and steady volunteer in Delano for decades on election day. Arlene was also a consistent volunteer for major running and biking events in Waconia and Minnetonka. She was proud to support and a delight to all with her excellent meeting and greeting skills.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband Glen in 2007; son-in-law Wallace Goltry in 2019; Schaust brothers Anthony, Joseph, Loren,Leonard, Matt, and George; sisters Betty Gabrelcik, Jean Farniok, Leona Fake; brothers-in-law George Fake, Rich Gabrelcik, and Bob Farniok; sisters-in-law Dorothy Schaust, Delores Schaust, Maxine Schaust, Loraine Schaust, Estelle Schaust and Joan Schaust.

She is survived by her children Jerry (Gayle), Nancy Goltry, Tim (Yvonne), Connie Litfin-Aragon (Lee); Five grandchildren Grant (Brandee Ramirez) Litfin from California, Garrett (Page) Litfin from North Carolina, Leslie (Andrew) Myer from North Dakota, Philip (Nicole) Litfin from Waconia, MN, and Nicholas (Stefy) Litfin from Eden Prairie, MN.

Arlene is survived as well by nine great-grandchildren, Gavin and Gwenyth Litfin (Grant), Harper and Griffith Litfin (Garrett), Benet and Ellis Myer (Leslie), Turner, Eleanor and Ava Litfin (Philip). As well as a great many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Friday, May 15, 2026, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Parish, St. Peter’s Church campus in Delano, Minnesota. A visitation will be held from 5-8:00 PM, with an 8:00PM prayer service on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and continue from 10-11:00 AM, with a 9:45 AM rosary service Friday morning prior to Mass at the church. Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Delano, Minnesota.

The Mass will be live-streamed on the Iten Funeral Home Youtube page, through the link provided below:

https://www.youtube.com/live/SspZyRO8v2Y?si=QRY81LwI7Jo_ET7w