Dolores "Doris" Arens

Dolores C. “Doris” Arens, age 93, of Padua, passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2026, surrounded by her family at Edgewood Assisted Living in Alexandria, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, October 9 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa with Rev. Mark Botzet officiating. Interment will be held at Saint Anthony Cemetery in Padua.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday at the church.

Dolores Caroline Barten was born May 26, 1933 in Elrosa, Minnesota to Nicholas and Cecilia (Deters) Barten. She grew up on the family farm and attended country school thru the eighth grade. On February 10, 1953, Dolores was united in marriage to Wilfred Arens at Saint Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Following their marriage, Wilfred and Doris moved to Padua where they worked on the Arens Family Farm. Soon after moving to Padua, they were able to purchase a dairy farm one mile south of Padua and raised their family at that homestead. Doris worked at the Dime Store in Sauk Centre prior to her marriage. They retired from farming in 1994 and built their retirement home in Padua.

Doris enjoyed sewing clothes for the family and others, cross stitching, quilting, baking, canning, playing cards, socializing at the Padua Pub, and shopping. When Wilfred and Doris were able, they enjoyed traveling and especially loved vacationing on cruise ships.

She was an active member at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Padua and later Saints Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Elrosa. She was also a member of the Christian Women.

Survivors include her children, Debra Collins of Alexandria, Ken (Brenda) Arens of Sauk Centre, Barb Clark of Bristol, SD, Nancy (Tony) Radermacher of Ellsworth, WI, Mary Botten of Alexandria, Bonnie (Roger) Koehntop of Morris, Becky (Jeff) Spartz of New Hope, and Sandy (Jeff) Zenzen of Sauk Centre; 26 grandchildren; 51 great grandchildren with two on the way, and one great-great grandchild on the way; brother, Don Barten of Minneapolis; sister, Janice (Phil) Miller of Alexandria; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred Arens on October 18, 2019; son, David Arens; son-in-law, Tom Collins; parents, Nicholas and Cecilia Barten; brothers, Ray, Dick, and Alfred Barten; and sisters, Odilia Dahlheimer, Lucille Spanier, Rosie Spanier, and Verna Keller.