Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on December 5, 1943, Arly was the third born of seven children. While growing up in Manson, Iowa, Arly was an athlete who loved spending summers on the lake, catching glow bugs by night, and being with her siblings.

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After graduating from Wartburg College in 1966, Arly moved to Colorado where she took her initial teaching position at Baseline Elementary in Boulder, Colorado. Arly’s teaching career continued as a 5th grade teacher at Littleton Elementary from 1968 until the birth of her first child, Jason, in 1971. She continued to substitute teach in Littleton through the birth of her second son, Ryan, in 1974, and until she and her husband, Jack Kruse, moved the family to Boulder in 1977. With the birth of their third child, Kylie, in 1979, Arly entered the Boulder Valley School District as a substitute teacher, where she invested well over 10 years of her time. 

 

In addition to substituting regularly, Arly continued to use her early education degree by tutoring, as she believed her time would help to chart the path to academic success for many. As a mother, Arly saw to it that her children understood the value of an education and hard work, leading by example. She was loving, generous with her time, and committed herself to instilling a love of learning in the hearts of many who sought her out for academic support.

 

Beyond education, Arly was a talented interior designer, an avid golfer, a lover of world travel, a literary enthusiast, a lover of book club, Bunco and Backgammon, a dedicated Christian and a volunteer for many years within organizations located in Boulder County. While she loved many activities and had interests that spanned the spectrum - her deepest love  was for husband, Jack, her children, Jason, Ryan and Kylie, her Grandchildren, Carter, Chloe, Ella, Lily, Alexis and Patrick and her beloved siblings Louise, Loran, Lenore, Marilyn, Leola and Janene.

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Through this legacy, may her love of education live on, may many lives be blessed by the memory of hers.