Arlene Lois (Bennett) Beckwith

August 30, 1934 – January 1, 2026

Arlene Lois (Bennett) Beckwith passed peacefully on January 1, 2026, at Trinity Care Center in Farmington, Minnesota, at the age of 91.

Arlene was born in Canandaigua, New York, to Clarence and Marie (Hammond) Bennett. She spent her early years on the family farm before moving into town, where she discovered a lifelong love of music—especially singing and piano. That love guided her to the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she majored in Music Education with an emphasis in vocal performance and minored in English.

While at Fredonia, Arlene met Gene Beckwith, also a music major. They were married on June 9, 1956, and began their married life in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Gene was stationed in the U.S. Army. Their life together included many moves—Elma, New York; Fargo, North Dakota; and finally Red Wing, Minnesota—but wherever they landed, Arlene found music and community.

She sang with the Buffalo Schola Cantorum, the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, the Fargo–Moorhead Opera Company, and the Red Wing Singers, as well as in every church choir she belonged to along the way. In addition to performing, Arlene taught piano lessons out of her home well into her 80s, sharing both her talent and her patience with generations of students. Her love of learning also led her to work as a substitute teacher in the communities where she lived.

After moving to Red Wing in 1976, Arlene became active in the Christian Women’s Club and traveled as a speaker, joyfully sharing her faith. She also joined the Red Hat Society, where she delighted in friendship, laughter, and memorable adventures with a special group of women.

Arlene and Gene loved to travel together, spending many winters in Florida and enjoying cruises to Alaska, the Mediterranean, and New England into Canada.

Arlene is survived by her brother, Clarence “Bubs” Bennett (Cindy); her children, Marva (Joseph), Greg (Susan), and Keith (Beth); and her grandchildren, Joseph Jr. (Cortney), Matthew (Allison), and Ethan.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Care Center (Skilled Nursing Care), 905 Elm Street, Farmington, MN 55024.

Funeral services will be held at 

Christ Episcopal Church,

321 West Avenue, 

Red Wing, Minnesota,

January 19, 2026.

Visitation: 10am-11am

Service: 11am

There will be a lunch following the service at the church.