Darlene Engler

Funeral services for Darlene Engler will be held on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at East Zion Lutheran Church, rural Starbuck with Pastor Steve Carmany officiating.  Visitation will be on Thursday, March 25th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck.  Burial will be at the East Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery.

There will be a live stream of Darlene's service starting at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021.  To view the service on the Starbuck Funeral Home website, scroll to the bottom of Darlene's page and click the link.

While maintaining social distancing guidelines, we are now able to accommodate gatherings of up to 250 people. The use of face masks by attendees is required, and we will continue taking the necessary steps to keep our facility clean. For those who prefer or require continued precautions, webcasting and/or livestreaming is available in most situations.

Darlene Ruth (Bennett) Engler, was born March 21st, 1937 to Jesse and Dorothy (Lentz) Bennett in Iona, MN. She was the third oldest of 7 children. Darlene was baptized into the Catholic faith July 6th, 1947.  Darlene was united in marriage to Dwaine Delbert Engler on June 26th, 1954 in the German Lutheran Church in Westbrook, MN, and on August 29th they were both confirmed into the Lutheran faith. Darlene finished the 10th grade in Slayton, MN and on July 26th, 1982 Darlene completed her GED. Together Darlene and Dwaine dairy farmed in several areas throughout rural MN, Westbrook Currie area, Walnut Grove, Fulda, Iona, Lake Wilson, Raymond, Lake Lillian, Belgrade and in 1976 bought a small dairy/hobby farm south of Starbuck, MN.

Darlene started her nursing assistant career at the Belgrade nursing home in Belgrade, MN. When they moved to Starbuck, Darlene worked at the Minnewaska Lutheran Nursing Home as a CNA for 24 years, while helping with the farm and raising the 6 youngest of the 8 children.  Darlene loved to embroider and was known for her beautiful quilt squares, pillowcases, dresser scarves and many other items. Darlene also loved watching her western movies, listening to old time music polka, waltzes and schottisches, doing word search books, fishing and gardening.  Darlene was also a member of the Starbuck VFW Auxiliary and East Zion Church.  Darlene’s family was the most important part of her life, she took care of Dwaine when he was diagnosed with ALS until his passing.  She enjoyed spending time with her children and their families, grandchildren, great grandchildren and all the kids she adopted in her heart that called her mom and grandma.

Darlene passed away Friday March 19th, 2021, at her home at Holly Ridge Manor having lived to reach the age of 83 years and 363 days surrounded by her family.

She is survived by eight children: Delbert (Barb) Engler of Dent, MN, Darla (Rollie) Williams of St. Paul, MN, Doug Engler of Underwood, MN, Danny Engler of Glenwood, MN, David Engler of Roslyn, SD, Denise (Steven) Henricks of Coon Rapids, MN, Dawn (Loren) Sattler of Pierpont, SD, and Daphne (David) Pooler of Glenwood, MN. 23 grandchildren, 39 +1 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren; her sister: Elvera (Larry) Oneil of Sedalia, MO; her brother: Gary (Sue) Bennett of Wyoming, MN; brother-in-law, Joe Peterson and sisters-in-law: Marian Lentz, Charletta Bennett, and Sharon Bennett.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dwaine; parents: J.C. and Dora Bennett; father and mother-in-law, George and Martha Engler; siblings: Joseph (Bud) Lentz, Lloyd Bennett, Lola Peterson and Elroy (Butch) Bennett; daughter-in-law, Dori Merrill; two great-grandsons: Logan and Nickoli.

Starbuck Funeral Home is in care of arrangements for Darlene.