Funeral services for Darlene Awsumb of Donnelly, Minnesota will be held Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris, MN. Father Robert Kieffer will be officiating. Visitation will be held Friday from 5 to 8 PM with a rosary and prayer service at 7:30 at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be in Kongsvinger Lutheran Cemetery, rural Donnelly.
Darlene Theresa Carlin, daughter of Edward and Vivian (Corcoran) Carlin, was born December 12, 1935 in Morris, Minnesota, where she was baptized and later confirmed at the Assumption Catholic Church. Darlene grew up and received her education in Morris, graduating from Morris High School in 1954. After her schooling, she worked as a waitress for a couple years before taking a job at the Extension Office in Morris. On June 16, 1956, she was united in marriage to Henning Awsumb. Soon after their marriage, they moved to a farm near Donnelly, where they farmed and raised their three children. Darlene then took a job as secretary and program director at KMRS Radio Station in Morris, shortly after the station was started. She even had her own spot on the air called "Community News with Darlene". Darlene worked at the radio station for 40 years before eventually retiring. Following her retirement, she and Henning enjoyed traveling to areas such as Norway, Nova Scotia, Canadian Rockies, New York City and Washington, DC.
Over her lifetime, Darlene had been an active member of St. Theresia's Catholic Church in Donnelly and Assumption Catholic Church in Morris. She was also a member of the Morris American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries; the Morris Sports Boosters and was a founding member of the Morris Community Education Program. Darlene loved quilting, attending sporting events, dancing (especially Norwegian ethnic dancing) and cooking, and she always insisting on having two meats at every holiday meal. Darlene especially enjoyed spending time with her family.
Darlene died on Monday, August 8, 2011 at West Wind Village in Morris, MN, having lived to reach the age of 75 years.
She is survived by her husband: Henning Awsumb of Donnelly; three children: Craig Awsumb of Donnelly, Patricia (Mark) Smith of Donnelly and Peter (Dawn) Awsumb of Columbia Heights; five grandchildren: Zachary, Kelsey, Bennett, Carter and MaKenzie; one brother: Edward (Beverly) Carlin of Sandstone; one sister: JoAnn (Tom) Jacobson of Morton; sisters-in-law: Joyce Carlin of Pahrump, NV, Gertrude Brandt of Long Beach, Vivian Fahey of Columbia Heights, Donna (Ted) Yochim of Sisseton, SD and Lorraine Awsumb of Morris and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters: Mary Davidson, LaVonne Tellinghusen, Sharon Uphoff and Carol Carlin and two brothers: Peter and Eugene Carlin.
Pallbearers for the service are: Zachary Awsumb, Bennett Smith, Carter Smith, Albert Tellinghusen, Amanda Jacobson and Jim Carlin. Darlene Hennen will serve as pianist for the service with Holly Giese serving as song leader. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.