Arla Joyce Reichenberg, age 89, of Arthur County, Nebraska ended her earthly journey and went to heaven on January 17, 2026, at Acura Healthcare in North Platte.
Arla was born on September 23, 1936 in Lexington, Nebraska to Edwin and Edna (Cramer) Carlson. She grew up in northeast Dawson County in the Sumner area where her parents farmed. As a girl she was active in church activities at the Baptist church in Sumner and was involved in Dawson County 4-H. Most important of all, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior (John 3:16–18) as a child and later identified with Him through believer’s baptism by immersion.
Arla graduated from Sumner High School with the Class of 1954. She received a Regents Scholarship from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, but chose to attend the Nebraska State Teachers College - Kearney and obtained her two year teaching certificate. She taught lower elementary grades in Sumner, Papillion, and Morton Elementary School in Lexington. While teaching, she kept furthering her education at Kearney and received a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree at Summer Commencement in 1962.
Arla met Kenneth Reichenberg of Arthur County in February of 1963, and they were married on June 30, 1963 at the First Baptist Church of Sumner. She then began the rest of her life career as a homemaker and ranch wife. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, and gardening, providing much food and clothing for her household (Proverbs 31: 10-31). Arla was willing to lead a frugal and thrifty life as a helpmate to her husband in his ranching pursuits.
Arla served God as a Sunday School and Bible School teacher at the Center Valley Baptist Church and as a Sunday School teacher and nursery worker at the Ogallala Berean Church. She also later attended the North Platte Berean Church and most recently the Gandy Community Bible Church until chronic pain and other health issues prevented her from attending.
Arla served her community as a member of the Arthur County Library Board, was part of the Arthur Hospitality Committee, and had been a member of the Center Valley Extension Club.
Arla is survived by her husband of 62 years, Kenneth; her daughter, Elaine Reichenberg of Arthur County; her son, Daniel (Elia) Reichenberg of Spring, Texas; her sister, Glenda (Dale) Hough of Eddyville; and many other family members including cousins, nieces, a nephew and their families.
A memorial service/celebration of life and inurnment will be held at a later date.
Memorial gifts in honor of Arla may be given to the following: the Gandy Community Bible Church-Gandy- Stapleton, NE, the Arthur rural Fire Protection District - Arthur NE, Maranatha Bible Camp- Maxwell, NE, or the Women’s Resource Center of North Platte, NE.