Darlene Simkins

A lunch and time of fellowship will follow in the church fellowship hall following the services. Darlene Joan Kettner Simkins left this life on March 10, 2009 at the University of California in San Francisco, CA. She was hospitalized on February 24 after having a severe brain aneurysm. Darlene was born on her mother's birthday, December 14, 1944 in Springfield MN. She was baptized January 14, 1945 and confirmed March 30, 1958 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Springfield MN. She attended country school and graduated from Springfield Public School. She graduated from the Minneapolis Business School and was employed in MN several years before moving to California where she presently lived. Darlene enjoyed flowers and gardening, reading, playing cards and board games, and being with her family. We remember Darlene through our memories of her warm loving ways, her humor and wit, and her joy for life. Her funeral was held March 17, 2009 at Anderson CA with burial in Cottonwood Cemetery in Cottonwood CA where she lived with her husband. They were united in marriage on August 18, 1971 at the Silver Bells Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, NV. Later a wedding reception was held in their honor at Springfield, MN. She will be sadly missed by her husband - Rodney Simkins; sisters and brothers - Lois (Doug) Dion, Mound MN, Jean ( Al ) Breithbarth, Hopkins MN, Judith ( Ronald) Traurig, New Ulm MN, Jerome ( Jerrine) Kettner, Springfield MN, Sharon (Roy) Schwegel Burnsville MN, and Doug ( Sharon ) Kettner, Eau Claire WI; a stepdaughter - Rhonda; a special nephew - Ken Simkins; and many nieces and nephews. Darlene's death marks the beginning of a joyous reunion in heaven with her parents, Elmer and Edna, a brother Kenneth Lee in infancy, and a stepson Rodney Jr. She went in peace and remains in our hearts forever.