Arlene Vial

Arlene Vial

87, of Troy

Arlene Vera Laffoon Vial passed unexpectedly in her home on April 10, 2016, in Troy. She was 87.

Arlene was born on May 5, 1928, in Livingston, to Carl and Hazel Laffoon, long time Troy residents, who took over the Laffoon homestead, originally built in 1936. Arlene attended school in College Place, Wash., while her mother nursed back to health servicemen returning from WWII and her dad worked at the Hanford nuclear plant.

Arlene married Fred Niemann, had two daughters, then became a single mom and worked at Jack’s Café (when it was located next to the old Troy train depot on Front Street) for the next eight years. Arlene went to Greenville, Calif., in 1957 to visit her Aunt Olive. Auntie introduced her to Guido Mario Vial and they married two weeks later. That marriage lasted until Guido’s death from cancer in 1988. Arlene and Guido were pioneers moving to Alaska in 1959 when it was a territory. They spent 30 years in Alaska, living in Juneau and Anchorage.  Arlene did not work outside the home in Alaska except for volunteering at the voting precincts and making her famous divinity candy every Christmas for Guido’s “harem” at the Alaska Army National Guard and state offices. Oh, and driving Guido’s cart at the Fort Rich and Hawaii golf courses (where they traveled to get out of the snow and cold).

Arlene returned to Troy in the spring of 1989 where she was caregiver for her Mama, Hazel, who passed in 2002. She palled around with her best friend’s sister, Cenie Lien and Carol West.

Arlene was an active and lifetime member of the Kootenai Senior Citizen’s Center. A special thanks to Mike DeLeo and Becky DeLeo Williams for the care they gave Mom while Jan and Linda lived away. Arlene would always leave the center saying “goodnight Matilda” to Becky who would smile and return a “good night Irene.” To Mike it was “goodbye Brat” with a smile.

Arlene’s pride and joy were her two daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all loved her ‘a bushel and a peck’. Arlene is survived by her daughter, Linda Joy Kesselring [spouse Michael] of Crawford, Neb., and Janet (Jan) DeLeo [spouse John] of Spokane Valley, Wash. Linda has three children, Jeff Mullen [wife Joni] of Cornelius, Ore., Angie Mullen of New Hope, Minn., and, Nicolas Kesselring of Crawford Neb. Jan has six daughters, Kristen DeLeo of Inglewood, Calif., Kamden DeLeo [daughter Raelen-11 (an acrostic of Arlene) and son Hezekiah-10] of Spokane, Wash., Stephanie Bloom [spouse Lester] and daughter Maya Hazel-4 of Kirkland, Wash.,  Samantha Keadle [spouse Christopher] and son Dylan (six) and daughter Evelyn Jane (two) of Seattle, Wash., Alexis DeLeo, of Seattle, Wash., and, Chante’ DeLeo of Lander, Wyo. Arlene’s niece [Cheri and John Osterberg of Henderson, Nev., and family] and nephew [Darryl and Kim Lien of Troy and family], survive Arlene. Her Laffoon cousins, Charline Garrison, Gail Jefferson, Larry and Joel Laffoon, and Nelma Cravens also survive her. 

Visitation will be Thursday, April 14, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2016, at the Troy Baptist Church with interment and graveside services at Milnor Lake Cemetery.  A reception begins at 3 p.m. at the Kootenai Senior Citizen’s Center. All friends and family are welcome to attend and celebrate Arlene’s life and home-going to be with Jesus. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Troy Ambulance, EMT and Fire Department teams, or the KSCC. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.