Arlis L. Farmer

Arlis Farmer, age 93, of Prior Lake, MN, passed away on December 19, 2025, at New Perspective Senior Living in Prior Lake.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 1 pm, with a time of gathering one hour prior, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake. Pastor Larry Kasten will preside. Arlis will be laid to rest at a private family burial at Spring Lake Cemetery in Prior Lake.

Life is like a patchwork quilt with each little patch representing an adventure, experience, relationship or special event in one’s life. Arlis loved quilting. She spent countless hours designing the quilt, selecting the fabric, cutting and piecing together the blocks to form a quilt made with love.

The first stitch in Arli’s patchwork quilt was sewn on a cold winter night at Cumberland Hospital in Wisconsin on February 18, 1932. Harry and Ethel Fern (Cross) Polley welcomed their third daughter, Arlis Lillian into the family. The quilt’s earliest squares were created at the family’s Horseshoe Lake farm, along with her older sisters Mildred and Ethel. Arlis added patches to her quilt of adventures working hard on the farm and helping with the family summer rental cabins. In the quietness of the day, she loved spending time with her animals, being outside and enjoying lake life.

Arlis’s quilt featured patches of her graduation from Steamboat Rock High School in Iowa, where she enjoyed basketball and singing the current songs of the times with her best friend Audrey. Arlis furthered her education at Chillicothe Business School in Missouri. Through her career, Arlis worked as a secretary for the motor vehicle department in California and later from 1971-1994 at Hot Shot in Savage, where she enjoyed collecting stamps from the letters received all over the world.

The bulk of Arlis’s quilt was that of her family. She married James L. Farmer on June 16, 1951, in Sacramento, CA. Once Jim was released from the military, the newlyweds moved to Grantsbury, WI. In July of 1956, the Farmer family moved to Fridley, MN, and in 1968 lived out the remaining years in Prior Lake. Some of Arlis’s greatest patchwork was that of being a mother to 4 children, Janet, Kathy, Al and Karen. She relished times spent as a Girl Scout leader, participating in the PTA, but was the happiest being a stay home mom. As Arlis’ children grew, she added patchworks of being a grandma and great grandma.

The procession sewing of Arlis kept her life stitched together. The bright colors of her quilt reflect her personality. Arlis was a true friend to her children. She had a very calming presence, comforting and supporting demeanor. Arlis always had time to listen to her children’s problems, despite the time of the day. Inspired by her mother, Arlis worked hard at every task. Even until the very end, she had this quick wit, amazing sense of humor and gave the best advice.

Consider the finer details of the quilt representing her interest and desires. In the early years, she sewed clothes for the kids and Barbie doll clothes. She loved singing songs while doing house chores or enjoying coffee with the neighbors as the kids played. Later, Arlis loved embroidery, crocheting and expanding her knowledge on quilting through attending quilt shows and reading books. Arlis and Jim loved to travel. He appreciated the countryside and while she visited quilt shops. After Jim passed, Arlis found support in the Prior Lake quilting group. The final stitches on her quilt were spent the last years at New Perspectives Senior Living, where Arlis enjoyed a quieter life as her memory declined.

Arlis will be remembered and forever missed by children, Janet (Patrick Rivard) Farmer, Kathy (Al) McColl, Alan (Sherol) Farmer, Karen Frank; grandchildren, Courtney Hagen, Mark Lehman, Justine Goble, Holly McColl, Steve McColl, Wyatt Sexton: great grandchildren, Rosemary, Lillian, Alexis, Brody, Cade, Josie, Ava, Audrey, Addison; other family and friends. Preceded in death by husband, James L. Farmer.

Greeting Arlis home in Heaven is her husband, James L. Farmer; parents, Harry and Ethel Fern Polley; sisters, Mildred (Win) Johnson and Ethel “Toots” (Harold) Graber.