Darlene was born in Watertown, SD to William (Henry) and Lena McNamara on May 25, 1932. Darlene grew up on a farm near Hazel, SD and graduated from Hazel High School in 1950. After high school, Darlene went to work at the General Mills Store in Watertown, SD and met the love of her life, Kirmet Dahlgren. Kirmet and Darlene were married on August 8, 1953 at Tabor Lutheran Church in Strandburg, SD. They celebrated 64 years of marriage until Kirmet passed away on December 13, 2017. After they were married, they moved to Minneapolis where Darlene went to work as a bank teller and Kirmet started his career as a ceramic tile contractor. Darlene had many jobs over the years and at times she worked two jobs a day to help her family. She worked as a waitress at a Lebanese restaurant, a grocery store cashier and for 25 years as an admitting clerk at Unity Hospital in Fridley, MN. Her co-workers and customers have said she was one of the most friendly and caring people they ever knew. Of all the jobs she had, her favorite job by far was waiting on her beloved Kirmet!
Spending time with her family and friends was also one of Darlene’s favorite things to do. She always made sure there were plenty of good things to eat at the lake cabin and at family gatherings. Baking treats was one of her many talents and when Kirmet would invite everyone over, she made sure there were plenty of goodies to share. Besides cooking and helping others, she enjoyed going to garage sales, volunteering at church and fishing with her family and friends at the lake cabin. Most of all, Darlene was a great teacher as she led by example. She showed us all how to live an unselfish life and treat people with kindness, compassion and respect.
Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Kirmet Dahlgren; parents, William (Henry) and Lena McNamara.
She is survived by her sons, Gregory (Lynn) Dahlgren, and Timothy (Sandra) Dahlgren; her sister, Lillian Quick; her brothers, Jim McNamara, and Dan McNamara; grandchildren, Tyler (Amy) Dahlgren, Kelsey (Ted) Gonsior, Henry Dahlgren, and Kristen Dahlgren; great grandchildren, Charlene Gonsior, Theodore Gonsior, Lacy Dahlgren, Leah Dahlgren, Josephine Gonsior, and Preslee Casler; as well as several other relatives and friends.
Memorial service for Darlene will be held at Gearhart Funeral Home, 11275 Foley Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448, on Saturday, August 29, 2026, with visitation from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by the service at 11:00 am.
Private interment for Darlene and Kirmet will be held at Tabor Lutheran Church in Strandburg, SD at a later date.
Urn bearers will be Tyler Dahlgren, Kelsey Gonsior, Henry Dahlgren, and Kristen Dahlgren.
A special thank you to the staff at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Allina Hospice, Edgewood Senior Center in Blaine and Gearhart Funeral Home in Coon Rapids or all their loving care and support.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in the memory of Darlene to be made towards the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at curealz.org.
