Arlen Jay Hilkemann was born November 10, 1949 in Norfolk, Nebraska to Henry Otto Hilkemann and Virginia Ruth Arduser Hilkemann. Life on the Hilkemann family farm got even busier when sisters Carolyn and Marilyn joined the family. At an early age, Arlen asked his mother to help him pray to receive Jesus as his Savior. They attended the Methodist church in Randolph, NE, but also began attending Bible study with American Sunday School missionaries Howard and Fern Peterson. When Arlen was old enough he was a camper at Camp Assurance, led by the Petersons. It was there that Arlen felt the Lord’s call on his life to be a missionary. After graduating from high school in 1968, Arlen attended Grace Bible Institute in Omaha (now known as Grace University).
For the freshmen classes, seating was by alphabetical order, so Arlen sat next to Marilyn Heidner in nearly every class. A friendship developed and when the freshman year was nearly over, he asked her for a date. That summer Marilyn worked as a summer missionary with the American Sunday School Union missionaries in Southeast Montana, Delbert and Marian Bosckis. The mailman was busy that summer with letters going back and forth! Arlen and Marilyn were married June 11, 1971 at Lustre, Mt. The following summer they did a missionary internship with Gospel Missionary Union at Juneau, Alaska. Arlen preached at the Douglas Island Bible Church and they helped at Echo Ranch Bible Camp.
The spring of 1973 Arlen and Marilyn moved to Brusett, MT as ASSU missionaries. There Arlen preached at the Blackfoot Sunday School and worked for local people. In 1975 they moved to Wolf Point to take over the Northeast Montana Field. By that time the mission’s name was changed to American Missionary Fellowship. Being on the reservation, their ministry soon included home Bible studies and a Kids Bible Club at Frazer. Prairie Elk, Grandview, Oswego, Wolf Point, and Scobey were added to their places of ministry, while continuing to go to the Blackfoot and Van Norman Sunday Schools in the Jordan area. Arlen directed or co-directed the Junior Camp at Beacon Bible Camp near Frazer for many years. He and his family were very involved with Gospel Fellowship Church in Wolf Point.
Three sons were born into their family—David in 1974, Mike in 1976 and Joel in 1982. The boys attended lots of Bible Clubs and Sunday Schools, but it was a special privilege of Arlen and Marilyn to lead their boys to saving faith in Jesus Christ and to help them grow in their Christian walk.
In his spare time, Arlen enjoyed following the Corn Huskers football team, gardening, woodworking, and collecting Oliver toy tractors that reminded him of his growing up on the farm. His favorite season was autumn, with firewood cutting and hunting.
In January of 2012, Arlen’s life changed when he had a silent heart attack, which remained undiagnosed until August. By September doctors told him that his only chance of survival was a heart transplant. At Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in January of 2013 his heart was replaced by a total artificial heart, which served him well for 7 ½ months until a donor heart became available August 16, 2013. He never really felt good after that, especially after developing Post Transplant Lymphoma. Arlen retired from ministry with InFaith in January 2015, but continued to do what he could. He had three bouts with lymphoma and the chemo that was used to treat it. One doctor said Arlen was “one tough cookie” but he lost his fight with cancer on January 16, 2016. The family was so grateful for time spent with Arlen, sharing memories and Scripture, and praying and singing together.
Arlen was preceded in death by his father, Henry Hilkemann and is survived by his mother, Virginia Hilkemann. He is also survived by his wife, Marilyn, his sons and daughters-in-law David and Dawn, Mike and Nicky, and Joel and Michelle. Arlen was very proud of his ten grandchildren: Anna, Sadie, Ryan, Silas, Mason, Jaycee, Callie, Holly, Zach, and Coleman.
Visitation will be held 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 20 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, January 21 at the First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point. Interment will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday January 20, 2016
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, MT 59201
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Thursday January 21, 2016
First Lutheran Church
415 Johnson Street
Wolf Point, MT 59201
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday January 20, 2016
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, MT 59201
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Thursday January 21, 2016
First Lutheran Church
415 Johnson Street
Wolf Point, MT 59201
Vicky Boysun says
He will so be missed…He was such an inspiration to me. I look forward to seeing him in Heaven.
Gail Dugan says
Marilyn and family,
My prayers are with you and the family during this time. There are no words that I can express to lessen the pain and sorrow. What a void in the community as he touched so many. Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you.
Glenn & Maxine says
May God bless the family as Arlen passes on to the other side. He was a faithful witness and servant for our Lord Jesus Christ! I always enjoyed our visits and surprised he was called home so soon. Special prayers for Marilyn.
Keeta Clemens says
Arlen was a great neighbor and I will miss those roadside visits when I was back in town.
May precious memories help dull and lessen the pain of his loss. He will be missed
Doreen & David Lind says
Our thoughts and prayers are with Marilyn & the entire family. We will not be able to attend the funeral, but we will be keeping you close in our hearts and thoughts and prayers that day! We pray for the comfort of our Lord Jesus to be upon you! Arlene will sure be missed by all of us!
Gina (Wiens) Huber says
Marilyn & Family, Thank you for being such a great example to the Community & Church family. You all are truly an example of God’s Love & Faithfulness. Arlen, will be truly missed. We have the hope & will see him soon.
Carol Neufeld says
We will miss Arlen, I remember when we first met. The special visits to the folks with your young family. Mom and Dad loved you so and enjoyed those visits so much. We were blessed to join in on many of those times. Arlen ran his race well and is now rewarded in heaven. I know how much he will be missed here on earth by each of you. Arlen and you had quite the journey through the years and especially these last years. I know there were many blessings along the way. You both were shining with the love of Christ behind the illness and pain. We love you and will be praying lots as you gather during these days to prepare Arlen’s celebration of life. Our love and Prayers, Roy & Carol
Nathan + Lisa Adrian says
It was my pleasure to attend Millar College of the Bible with David and Mike, and Joel was a guest in our home when he was on tour with a group from Millar. I am proud to call these fine men my friends and wish I would have met Arlen, I think we would have been good friends. May God keep you and comfort you in this time of great sorrow. -Nathan + Lisa Adrian
Kevin Speir says
Dave I am so sorry about your dad. You’ll be in my prayers. Just be glad he is in heaven.
Jim and Mary riedlinger says
We are so sorry to hear of Arlen’s passing. We were neighbors out by frontier school in the 70′ s and he held bible studies there! We were so blessed by them and felt fortunate to have had he and Marilyn in our lives at that time. We extend our sympathy to his family!
John and Lorna Jackson says
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you Marilyn & your family. May you feel God’s loving comfort and peace.
Dean Simensen says
Marilyn
My condolences to you and your family.
Frank Lenihan says
Arlen was an inspiration to me, and a mentor. We served together on the camp board for 14 years and his love and faithfulness to camp, children, a d church ministries was contagious. Arlen was a faithful prayer warrior and we will miss him terribly. May God’s grace and compassion fill your hearts until we meet him in the clouds or in the presence of our Lord and Savior. When I see him again he will be in perfect health and strength. I miss you Arlene! In The Grip of His Grace,
Pastor Frank and Debbie
Shannon and Debbie Vine says
Sincere sympathy to Marilyn and all the family. May the Lord give you peace that passes all understanding.
Jason & Misti Payne says
My sincerest Condolences to Marilyn and the Hilkemann Boys. Out of the blue I called Arlen and thanked him for everything he did. I said I don’t know why but I got a feeling I needed to call you and thank you. We chatted for quite a while. He thanked me for calling him. I believe it was Arlen’s faith and teachings in Jesus that touched my heart that day to call him.
God Bless you, Arlen.
With GOD’s grace we will see each other again…
George and Cindy Stensland says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!
Arnie Solberg says
So sorry to hear this news..Such a strong testimony for Christ..Arlyn and his family alike,,Be blessed and strengthened through this period..one of life’s most difficult journeys we’ve been !
Della Pipestem says
A very special person got called home to heaven. He finished the work God had for him. It was time for him to leave. I pray I can be a good and faithful servant as be was while here on earth. I will truly miss him. He was a great example to me of what a Christian should be. Prayérs, hugs and love sent to his family. He was loved and will be missed by many
Steve and PK Bushman says
Marilyn and family. My prayers are with you.
verna bouchard says
So glad I was able to visit with you at Midge funeral—enjoyed your visits at our home down through the years. Want to express my sympathy–love, verna Bouchard Ps 48:14 May you be comforted.
Becky Schmidt says
Arlen’s quiet godliness was a blessing to all who came into contact with him. I know he’ll be missed, but–and I say this genuinely–it’s wonderful to know that though he’s missed here, he’s with the Lord now. That’s reassuring.
Alice Christensen says
Thoughts and prayers go out the family, He will always live on in your heart and memories
Joyce (Jackley) Baer says
Marilyn
Sorry to hear of Arlen’s passing. His earthly work complete, the LORD called him to his rest. A blessing for him, but for those left to complete our purpose, it can be difficult. Prayers for your peace and comfort…We don’t mourn as those who have no faith, we look forward to the day when we will be re-united, never to part again! Revelation 21:4
John and Lillian Loomis says
We are so very Sorry about the loss of Arlen!! He was a very loving ,God fearing man. His testimony and example was one to be glad to follow. He will definately be missed,but we know he is with Our Lord Jesus Christ and fellow Christians!!
Don and Judy Heidner says
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you today as we remember you, Marilyn, and your family. Arlen was a great example to us and displayed a servant’s heart to so many. So glad we had the opportunity to visit with both of you last time we were to Montana.
Colette Bogar Christensen says
Dear Marilyn and Hilkemann Family,
We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; (2 Cor 1:2-3). We ask God to comfort you in the way He only can.
In Christ’s Love, Todd & Colette Christensen and family
Edwin and Janet Clark says
to Marilyn and family, so sorry to hear of Arlen’s passing, will always remember him as a quiet steadfast man of the Lord. Our prayers for comfort for all of you in your loss. May your memories give you comfort in the days ahead.
Edwin and Janet Clark
Paul Nettleton says
No words can express my gratitude for the blessing Arlen was in my life. Thank you Arlen. You will be forever missed. I am so glad I got to know you. You’re in Heaven now. I know, and I wish I could have been there to see the welcome ceremony that you received. No more pain, no more sleepless nights, no more darkness. For the Light of Heaven shines brightly. The author of Hebrews says it best, … the world was not worthy of you.
Jana (Brown) Coble says
Dear Marilyn and family,
I am not sure if you remember me. Ralph and Jean Brown were my parents. We went to Community Bible Church with Arlen’s family. I am so sorry for your loss. I pray for God’s mercy and comfort for the path you are walking right now. Find joy in all your special memories of Arlen. It is ok to cry because tears are so healing. And God sees every one fall.
God’s special blessing to you.
Gail Green says
Marilyn and family,
My condolences and prayers for you all. Pain is real but the hope and assurance of being reunited because of Christ is a great comfort.
Gail Green