Arlene E. Hickel, 82, of Williston, ND passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at CHI St. Alexius Health in Williston, ND. Arlene was born on May 14, 1941 to Arnold and Ethel (Wilson) Hastings in Watford City, ND. She was the 4th out of 8 children.

Arlene was united in marriage to R.L. Hickel on September 12, 1956 in Butte, MT. During their first years of marriage they lived in Ray, ND and eventually they relocated to Williston. Together they had 6 children, Tony, Tammy, Todd, Tina, Travis, and Troy.

Arlene was a fun spirited soul who took on many passions. She enjoyed camping, gardening, crocheting, bowling, playing pinochle, and spending time at the cabin. She liked to go fishing and always enjoyed having a fish fry. She loved her apple tree and having her grandchildren help her with the apple processing. She was a member of the Moose Lodge and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Williston.

She took pride in her home and enjoyed using her decorative talents to make her home into a warm and inviting haven for entertaining family and friends. For many years she hosted the family gatherings during the holidays where the sound of love and laughter could be heard throughout her home. She loved the unmistakable giggles from her grandchildren as they turned her staircase into a giant slide or played basketball outside. She would often invite them over for a home cooked meal to celebrate their birthdays. Arlene was always up for a good conversation and she didn’t hesitate to put on a pot of coffee and whip up a good meal for her family and friends. She was known for her delicious potato salad and homemade bread.

Her real passion was selling real estate and she was extremely dedicated to her profession. She wouldn’t hesitate to put in long hours at the office or on the road if it meant helping someone find their dream home. People always knew when Arlene pulled up with her license plate that read “Classy”. She worked at different real estate companies throughout the years, the longest being with Bekk’s Realty in Williston. She loved working there and was recognized after 20 years of employment. She made many friends that turned into family, throughout her career in real estate. She was always known at the office for bringing in her baked goods, especially her sweet rolls. Arlene was honored to be awarded “Realtor of the Month” and “Realtor of the Year” during her 30+ year career in real estate. Recently, she opened her own business called “Boomtown Group Leasing and Property Management” in Williston.

Arlene was a beautiful person inside and out. Her smile was infectious and would light up an entire room. She cared deeply for the people around her and was kind and passionate. She made a lasting impact on many lives and she will forever be missed by her family and friends.

Arlene is survived by her sons, Tony (Karen) Hickel of Williston, ND, Todd Hickel of Dickinson, ND, Travis (Terri) Hickel of Williston, ND, Troy (Amie) Hickel of Phoenix, AZ; son-in-law, Rodney Stewart of Williston, ND; daughter, Tina (Cole) Davis of Ephraim, WI; brothers, Claude Kidd of Dawson Creek in BC Canada, Arnie (aka Buddy) (Julie) Hastings of Sun Lakes, AZ, Jim (Linda) Hastings of Sacramento, CA and David Hastings of Beaverton, OR; sister, DeArlyn (Jim) Carney of Fridley, MN; brother-in-law, James (Angie) Hickel of Anchor Point, AK; sister-in-law, Wilma Hillstead of Williston, ND; 18 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by parents, Arnold and Ethel Hastings; husband, R.L. Hickel; mother and father-in-law, Anton and Mabel Hickel; daughter, Tammy Stewart; brother, Clyde Kidd; sister, Betty Mrachek; sister-in-law, June Kidd; brothers-in-law, Albert Hickel, Dean Hickel, Wallace Hickel, John Hickel, Dale Hillstead; grandsons; Aaron and Bobby Stewart; granddaughter, Ariel Fettig; nephew, Daniel Hillstead.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal.”