Darlene Marie Schlecht

Darlene Thorstad was born February 10, 1941 in Mayville, North Dakota to Kenneth and Viola Thorstad.

She attended school in Clifford, ND through the 8th grade. She then moved to Fargo and resided with an aunt and uncle, Orville and Adelyn Olson, for a couple of years. She graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1958.

Darlene married Michael Holman, and they later divorced. She married Theodore (Ted) Waalen, March 6, 1964. They lived in Fargo and in the Kindred and Hickson area. In 1986, they purchased a home on Lake Lizzie (commonly referred to as “The Lockwood House”) near Pelican Rapids, MN. Ted died unexpectedly in 1989.

Darlene married Karl Schlecht May 26, 1990. They resided in West Fargo until 1995 when Karl retired and they moved to the lake home. Darlene was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids.

Darlene was employed by Johnson Controls and Amstan Supply Division, and in 1967 became an employee of Blue Cross Blue Shield of ND. The majority of her tenure was serving as Secretary to the President. During that time, Darlene was one of the first secretaries in ND to achieve CPS status. She retired in 1992 but continued to work with the BCBS Board of Directors. She retired from that position in 1997. Darlene enjoyed spending winters in Arizona, summers at the lake, gardening, fishing, reading, telling stories, and her family.

Darlene is survived by her husband, Karl; her children, Charlotte (Brian) Blumer; Shari Holman; and Jon (Kathy) Holman; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Brandon) Conkins, Nicholas Blumer, Alex Blumer; brother, Larry Thorstad; sister, Dianne Stanley; and several nieces and nephews.
She is also survived by a stepson, Monte (Julie) Schlecht; step-grandchildren, Lucas (Kylie), Adam (Alison), Patrick, Benjamin, and Lindsey (Kyle); and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Viola Woell; father, Kenneth Thorstad; a sister, Kathryn Sigurdson; and stepfather, Wallace Woell.

Darlene's video tribute can be viewed at http://www.philpetersonproductions.com/hr-memorials.htm