Darlene Mae Owens, 85

By: 
Jay Schneider

Darlene May Owens age 85, of Audubon, MN went home to be with Jesus on April 2, 2018 under the care of the Red River Valley Hospice at Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Darlene May Owens was born May 17, 1932 to Hugo and Mabel (Schostag-Berndt) Roemhildt in Mankato, MN. She grew up on a farm outside of Elysian, MN and attended first through eighth grade in a one room Lutheran School (St. Peter’s Lutheran Church). She graduated from Waterville High School in May of 1950 as the Salutatorian. Darlene attended college for one year in Winfield KS and then transferred to Concordia College in St. Paul, MN for one more year, graduating with an elementary teaching degree. After teaching for two years in Mayer, MN she then went to work for Northwest Airlines corporate offices in St. Paul, MN as a secretary for three years. Darlene then drove to Long Beach, CA to stay with her sister Julaine Jacobson and started working for Coca-Cola Company as a secretary. When sister Julaine and husband Denny were transferred to Oregon, Darlene moved into a house which was across the street from the love of her life Ron Owens. Ron would mow the grass and Darlene would bring him lemonade. Darlene and Ron were united in marriage on August 20, 1958. They had four children – Carole (1959), Kathy (1960), Doug (1961) and Karin (1962). Darlene and Ron lived in many places during the years starting in Bellflower, CA; and then West Covina, CA; Astoria, OR; Beaverton, OR; Winlock, WA; Sebeka, MN; New York Mills, MN; Detroit Lakes, MN; and finally Audubon, MN.

Darlene had many occupations during her life time which included teacher, secretary, homemaker, farmer (which included milking a cow by hand and then 20 cows using a milk machine), resort owner, AVON representative (35 years), mom grandma, great grandma, and great great grandma. Darlene was loving, kind, caring, generous and always had a smile for everyone. She loved to play all sorts of board games and card games (scrabble was one of her favorites), do crossword puzzles, sing in the church choir, garden and can, socialize (a lot), party and dance (with her red shoes on), and travel. She was always asking “Where are we going next?” Darlene cherished her family and friends and some of her favorite vacations (always with family) were the Alaskan cruise, Hawaii, San Antonio, TX, Las Vegas, NV, and Memphis and Gatlinburg, TN. Darlene and Ron made many trips driving to Idaho to visit their daughter, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. They also made a few trips driving to West Chazy, NY to visit Ron’s family. Darlene loved visiting with all the neighbors and having parties in the lodge at Jones Landing Resort on Big Pine Lake, New York Mills, MN, which she and Ron operated from 1981-1992.

Darlene is survived by her husband Ron, of Audubon, MN; daughter Carole Hagen, of Detroit Lakes, MN; daughter Kathy Owens, of Detroit Lakes, MN; son Doug (Jill Raatikka) Owens, of Fargo, ND; and daughter Karin Canoy, of Kuna, ID; five grandchildren, Dan, Matt, Christy, Mary, and Stephanee; eleven great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; two sisters Julaine Jacobson, of Elysian, MN; and Louise Rilling, of St. Peter, MN; sister in law Jeneanne Snyder, of Owatonna, MN; and sister in law Norma Vassar, of West Chazy, NY. Darlene was preceded in death by one brother Loren Roemhildt; and her parents.

Memorial Services will be held on Friday April 13, 2018; 1 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. The West-Kjos Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences may be shared by visiting www.westkjos.com.

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