Effie Arnold, age 102, died June 8, 2025 at Brentwood Assisted Living in Rice Lake.

Effie was born January 4, 1923 on a farm near DeSoto, Wisconsin to Charles and Minnie Wakefield. She graduated from Viroqua High School in 1940. After graduation she went to Evanston, Illinois where she worked in a radio factory. In 1942 she went to California and worked at North American Aircraft building the B25. She was a true Rosie the Riveter. On September 12, 1942 she married Donald Arnold in Los Angeles, California. After the war they returned to the Midwest. They had 3 children and after a few years moved to Rice Lake. There she worked for 30 years at Lakeside Methodist Hospital which became Lakeview Medical Center as a Nursing Assistant. She retired in 1988. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, doing puzzles and listening to the Milwaukee Brewers on the radio.

She is survived by 2 sons, James Arnold from Eugene, Oregon and Alan (Karen) Arnold from Rice Lake. One daughter Catherine (David) Dvorak from Rochester, Minnesota. Four grandchildren, Peter Dvorak, Anne (Pete) Hasite, Jeffrey Arnold (Amber) and Karyne Kosterman. Four great grandchildren Heather Hastie, Chistian Kosterman, Aiden Kosterman and Sydney Kosterman.

She was preceded in death by husband Donald Arnold, her parents and four brothers.

A special thank you to the staff at Brentwood Assisted LIving and the Mayo Hospice team.

Funeral services will be at 11AM, Tuesday July 1, 2025 at First United Methodist Church in Rice Lake, Rev. Jim Altman officiating, with interment in the Nora Cemetery in Rice Lake. Visitation will be from 9AM-11AM at the church prior to the funeral service.

Last Update: Jun 11, 2025 8:14 am CDT