Darlene Wangen, 89, of Harvey, ND formerly of Goodrich died Friday, December 15, 2023 at her home in Harvey. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 21, at First Lutheran Church, Harvey, ND.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed by a 7:00 p.m. Prayer service at Hertz Funeral Home, Harvey, ND.  The Funeral service will be streamed live on the First Lutheran Church, Harvey website. https://www.harveyfirstlutheran.com/

Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Hurdsfield, ND.

Darlene Wangen Tribute

On a cold January day in 1934 Darlene Joy was born to Ed & Ione (Schwamb) Molob.  She joined big brother Richard, who was known to most as Dickie.  The little family was complete.  Darlene and Dickie grew up in a tiny house on a farm south of Chaseley, and many adventures were had by the two of them. Although two years younger, Darlene grew fast and was for a time bigger than her brother. People would say, she's going to be a big lady, but soon Dick passed her by and she was stuck at 5'2".

She attended country school just up the hill from their farm.  She always loved school and was a very good student.

As a young girl the family sometime attended church in Chaseley, but Hurdsfield Lutheran was their home church.  That's where Mom was baptized, confirmed, and met our dad at confirmation classes.  The story is told that she really crushed on that cute Wangen boy, and it was true love.  Mom lived in Hurdsfield with relatives during the school year where she attended Hurdsfield High School, graduating in 1952.  She went to Valley City for college and obtained her teaching certificate.  Back home she went to teach in the little country school up the hill from the farm for a year.

On February 27, 1953, mom and dad were married at Bowdon Lutheran Church.  Dad was teaching in Chaseley at that time, and they made their home there.  On January 21, 1954 they were blessed with their first born, Duane Jr., and the kids kept coming!  Linda, Steve, and Marlene all arrived within 6 years.

Dad continued to teach school moving to Hurdsfield and Denhoff and mom was a full time stay at home mom. Dad decided to become a banker, and they moved back to Hurdsfield.  The little family of 6 took a BIG family vacation that summer and went to California, visiting the Black Hill, Great Salt Lake, and many sites in between.  By the way, we traveled in a Chevy station wagon, and had our dog with us, camping along the way, but some nights all six of us, including the dog, slept in the car.  Not sure how much sleeping was done.  Other family vacations were taken closer to home, like almost yearly trips to Medora, camping at Lake Ashtabula, and trips to Fargo to see Uncle Roy.

When we returned home from California, Grandma Molob was visiting and told mom the blouse she was wearing made her look pregnant.  Mom smiled and said "What if I am?"  A few months later Ken was born.  A surprise to all, I think especially to mom and dad!!  Ken was doted on by the 4 big kids, and mom would tell stories of dad coming home at noon just so he would have a chance to hold the baby.

A year or so later the bank decided to open a branch in Hurdsfield, and mom went to work 3 days a week at the Hurdsfield branch of First State Bank of Goodrich as Manager, a position she held for over 20 years.

In June of 1969 the family moved to Goodrich, kind of dramatic for the teenagers, but it soon became home.  Mom remained close to the Hurdsfield community, attending Hurdsfield Lutheran until it closed.  She then joined Peace Lutheran in Goodrich until her move to Harvey, where she joined First Lutheran.  Mom's faith was central in her life, and she served the churches she attended in almost every capacity a church could have.  In fact if you look at her sewing machine table, I'm sure there are quilt squares waiting for her to finish up for First Lutheran.

Mom made the decision to move to Harvey after an illness in the winter of 2020.  She knew the stairs were not her friend in her house in Goodrich.  After recuperating with Butch & Faye for several months she moved to her apartment in Harvey.  She missed her Goodrich friends but made new friends and enjoyed the past 3 ½ years in her new home.

We could list all the organizations and activities that mom was a part of, but those of you that knew her, already know that she would never say no when asked to be a part of something or help out.  As Ken posted on Facebook," She was the quietest, toughest lady I have known.  You watched your in-laws pass away (caring for her mother in-law after a stroke), and your father, mother, and brother (who you cared for after a heart attack until he was strong enough to live on his own).  You were on the ambulance crew taking care of dad when he passed.  You were there for your oldest son when he lost his battle with cancer.  Survived cancer yourself.  Through all of this you somehow still had the strength and heart to put others first."

To paraphrase what her granddaughter Jessica posted on Facebook,

Yesterday the world lost an amazing lady and I lost my Grandma.  Grief can bring about all kinds of feeling, sadness, anger, and even regret.  While a small part of me has all these feelings, the word that best describes my feeling today is THANKFUL.

Thankful that I was given the chance to call this lady Grandma (mom and friend)

Thankful for her red hair, beautiful smile, and unconditional love.

Thankful for all she taught me

Thankful for the countless memories to hold unto.

Thankful that she held each one of my boys in her arms and her heart (and each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren)

Thankful that because she knew Jesus, I don't have to wonder where she is today, and that is a gift of peace and hope that I will forever be grateful for.

As Ken finished his Facebook post we will end with these words "I guess one more Christmas without being by dad's side was not in the cards.  That's ok – you earned it.  Rest easy mom, we will be okay."

The Obituary provided newspapers

Darlene was born on January 28, 1934 south of Chaseley, ND to Edward and Mary Ione (Schwamb) Molob.  She grew up there and attended the nearby country school.  Darlene graduated from Hurdsfield High School in 1952.  She received her teaching certificate from Valley City State College and taught in the same country school she attended.   Darlene married Duane M. Wangen, Sr. on Feb. 27, 1953 in Bowdon.  They lived in the central ND communities of Chaseley, Hurdsfield, Denhoff, and Goodrich. Duane Sr. died on December 26, 1985. Darlene was the Hurdsfield Station branch manager for the First State Bank of Goodrich for over 20 years and lived in Goodrich for over 50 years before moving to Harvey in July 2020.  Darlene was a member of many community and church organizations.

Darlene remained close to the community of Hurdsfield and the Hurdsfield Lutheran Church for many years.  After the church closed, she joined the Peace Lutheran Church in Goodrich and then First Lutheran Church in Harvey.

Darlene is survived by her children, Linda (Jason) Winter of Goodrich, Steve (Gail) Wangen of Harvey, Marlene (Mark) Deyle of Bismarck, and Ken (Stephanie) Wangen of Carrington; daughter-in-law Faye Wangen of Bismarck; (11) grandchildren; (19) great-grandchildren; a niece and a nephew.

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Duane Sr., son Duane "Butch" Jr. on July 25, 2023; parents; and brother Richard Molob; brother-in-law Roy Wangen and sister-in-law Marion Austin.   Arrangements with Hertz Funeral Home, Harvey, ND