Darrel Keith Palmer

Darrel's memorial service can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/730819140

Darrel Keith Palmer (87) died Thursday, July 7, 2022, peacefully at Farmstead Living in Moorhead, MN.

Darrel was born on March 20, 1935, in Minot, ND, to Earl and Mildred Palmer of Glenburn, ND. He was the oldest of five children and was the only child who was not a twin. He had twin brother and sister, Marlin (Annette) and Marleen (Don Stueve), and twin brothers, Rod (Jean) and Ron.

Darrel attended Glenburn Public Schools, where he excelled in all sports.
He had a passion for baseball and often traveled by train by himself to watch professional baseball games in Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Chicago. Darrel attended Ty Cobb’s baseball camp in the Ozarks while in High School. He graduated from Glenburn High School and attended Sioux Falls College in Sioux Falls, SD. It was in Sioux Falls that he met and married Mary Ann Heinemann on September 4, 1955. They moved back to Glenburn, where he worked construction, farmed, and started a family. Darrel continued to play semi-professional baseball until he was nearly thirty years old, usually playing second base, where he was described as a “nifty” fielder. Mary Ann and their children attended every game in Minot.

After retiring from baseball, he continued to love outdoor activities and would take the family fishing on Lake Darling near Glenburn. Another fun outdoor family activity happened on Sundays in Glenburn when Darrel would load up the entire family on a flatbed stone boat behind a small John Deer tractor to pick rocks on Grandpa Earl’s farm.

Darrel moved the family to Dilworth, MN, in 1966 and began working as a carpenter for Meineke Johnson Construction. He quickly was promoted to foreman and then to superintendent. Darrel supervised the construction of many projects in Fargo, including schools and additions to St. Luke’s Hospital (now Sanford Broadway), West Acres, and Dakota Hospital (now Sanford Orthopedics on University). His favorite projects were the Fargo Public Schools buildings.

Darrel and Mary Ann were very active in the Assembly of God Church. They were asked to be a part of the church leadership, with Darrel serving as a Deacon and Mary Ann working as secretary and assistant to the pastor. They both taught classes and supported many areas of the ministry. Their faith, ministry, and love for Christ left a legacy in the church and their family. He took a leave of absence from Meineke Johnson to build the main sanctuary for the Assembly of God Church in Fargo.

Darrel and Mary Ann enjoyed and made many sacrifices to support their children in sports, be it gymnastics, track, basketball, baseball, and golf. They never missed an event.

Darrel built the family’s new home in northeast Dilworth, doing much of the work himself after working full days with Meineke Johnson. He was very proud of the craftsmanship in their home. Darrel and Mary Ann did not get to enjoy their new home for long; Mary Ann was diagnosed with leukemia in 1977 and, after a long battle with cancer, passed away in 1984.

After a nearly 40-year career in construction with Meineke Johnson, Darrel retired in 2004.

One of his favorite hobbies was restoring an old yellow International pickup, doing all the body work himself. The labor of love took nearly two years. In retirement, Darrel also enjoyed NDSU football and men’s basketball. He not only attended games but many of the practices. The Summit League basketball tournament in Sioux Falls was an annual event for him.

Darrel was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Mildred, his wife Mary Ann, brothers Marlin and Ron, and sister Marleen. He is survived by his sibling Rod (Jean) and five children, Craig (Tammy Miller), Kim Costello (Denny), Joy Skelton (David), Todd (Pam), and Lea Geis (Frank), eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

On behalf of Darrel, the family thanks the caregivers at Farmstead Living and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

A Memorial service will be held at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, 215 7th St. South, Fargo, ND, on Monday, July 18, at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment of the ashes will be at Riverside Cemetery in Moorhead, MN, following the service. www.hansonrunsvold.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of the Red River Valley or a charity of your choice.