Northampton, MA – Arlene Marie Urff, 90, of Florence, MA, passed away on October 26, 2026, from complications of pneumonia.
Arlene was born on November 14, 1935 and grew up on a farm outside of Glen Ullin, North Dakota. She and each of her nine siblings contributed to the functioning and success of the family farm. Hard work and dedication to family are characteristics she carried with her throughout her life.
After graduating from Glen Ullin High School, Arlene took a job with a regional airline and moved to Chicago, where she met Richard Urff. They married on Sept. 28, 1957 and were companions in life until his death on March 5, 2023. Soon after their marriage, they relocated to New York City, where their daughters Donna and Karen were born. In 1962, the family moved to Bismarck, ND where they welcomed their third daughter, Jenifer.
After her daughters were older and in school, Arlene returned to school, earning an Associate of Arts degree from Bismarck State College. After graduation, she worked with the US Clerk’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service, eventually establishing and retiring from A. Urff Tax Service. She enjoyed working and instilled in her daughters the belief that they could be anything they wanted in their lives.
After retiring in 1991, Arlene and Richard sold their house, bought an RV, and spent the next 10 years traveling the country. Along the way, they made lifelong friends and together visited every state but Hawaii and every Canadian province. Arlene often described those years as among the happiest of her life.
In 2000, Arlene and Richard purchased a home in Surprise, Arizona, where Arlene painstakingly decorated every inch with her own personal touch. Arlene was an avid bridge player and loved the roses and hummingbirds that thrived in her backyard.
In 2021, Richard and Arlene relocated to Rockridge Retirement Community in Northampton, MA to be closer to their daughter Jenifer and her family. The last four years of her life, Arlene lived with Jenifer at her home in Florence, where she enjoyed the four seasons of New England – although spring was her favorite.
There is no question that the greatest joy in Arlene’s life was her six grandchildren. When they were small, she took every opportunity to babysit and have them stay with her. Every second with her grandchildren was filled with fun, games, projects, and excursions – and candy and orange ice cream floats. She let them get dirty and made cleaning up so much fun. As they grew into adulthood, they remained devoted and loving grandchildren who adored her as much as she loved them.
Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, Philip and Rose Geck; her sister Theresa and her husband Edward Renner; her brothers Clem and his wife Joan Geck, Richard and his wife Helen Geck, and Donald Geck; and Everett “Brownie” Harrington. She was also preceded in death by her doting son-in-law Jon Western, who loved having her nearby in her later years.
She will be deeply missed by her daughters Donna Urff (Keith Reisenauer), Karen (Tom) Lander, and Jenifer Urff; and her grandchildren Thomas, Nicholas, and Andrew Lander; Brian Reisenauer; and Charles and Alex Western; as well as her beloved sisters Phyllis Teague and Nadine (Dennis) DelaBarre, her brothers Robert (Lois), Dennis (Kathy), and Kelly (Licia) Geck; her sister-in-law Maryann Geck; and dozens of nieces and nephews and their families.
Arlene lived a life well-traveled, and those who knew her have no doubt she will do the same on her next journey. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund in her honor.
Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes