Dear sweet Darlene was born on August 31, 1938 in Rock Island, Illinois to Raymond Henry Ohms and Helen Arlene Barr, and earned her wings to return home to our Heavenly Father on January 14th, 2021 after a valiant battle with Alzheimers/Dementia.
Darlene moved from Rock Island to Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of two when her father was transferred with John Deere, but she enjoyed spending several summers back in Illinois with her relatives.
In her teens she was introduced to the “Mormon” church and later joined the church after marrying her sweetheart Brent. She was a pioneer and Christlike example to her family. Darlene graduated from South High School in 1956 and married Brent Dermont Larsen on August 10, 1956. They were later sealed on December 16, 1964 in the Salt Lake Temple.
She worked doing Oster demonstrations, sold Avon and Tupperware and loved working for Interwest Medical and Praxair Healthcare Services for 27 years. Darlene also served as a volunteer pink lady at St. Marks Hospital and as a tour host at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church Office Building. She served in many callings at church and especially loved serving as young women’s camp director with other ladies in the ward and in the library with her sweetheart for 10 years where she could enjoy a Tab or Diet Coke between meetings.
Family, friends, and neighbors will never forget being welcomed to her home for homemade ice cream in the summertime and homemade fudge and popcorn in winter months. You could often find Darlene sitting on the front porch where she loved reading and looking up at the Wasatch Mountains. She found many peaceful moments while sitting on her front porch and chatting with neighbors as they came by.
In her early twenties Darlene was a beautiful model. Her smile was bright and contagious and brought sunshine to others each and every day. She was also a very classy and beautiful lady but wasn’t afraid to let down her hair to have a ton of fun.
Darlene was “Mom” to many and a friend to everyone. If you knew Darlene you felt loved. Her hugs and kisses were sincere and enjoyed by grandchildren as she passed out a piece of candy from grandma’s treat jar. We will all miss her homemade potato salad, wheat bread, pizza, spritz, peanut butter, and snickerdoodle cookies. Darlene gave her family wonderful traditions and memories to enjoy and has gathered them for any excuse to have a party where we loved to paint pumpkins, enjoy meals at every holiday, or go to the parade. She also made sure to call in the morning and sing Happy Birthday to every family member on their birthday.
Darlene enjoyed ushering at the University of Utah for decades at games, concerts and plays, and made many friends there. She also enjoyed playing bridge with many couples and with the ladies, and loved golfing and bowling in ladies leagues and with her family. We are sure she will be enjoying a great game of bowling with her dad and brothers now.
She was everyone’s biggest fan through her PTA service, attending countless sporting events, and was the best fund raiser supporter for her grandchildren.
Darlene is survived by her husband Brent and children: Brenda Louise Gardner (Doug), Brian Dermont Larsen (Debbie), Debra Ann Sager (Andy), Daniel Ray Larsen (Allison), 19 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. Darlene was preceded in death by her parents and step-father, William Thomas Edwards, her infant brother Ronald Ohms, and brothers Donald William Ohms and Dennis Ray Ohms.
Our family would like to thank Utah Home Health and Hospice and the staff at Wentworth at Willow Creek for their gentle and loving care during her final weeks.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions a private family service will be held on Monday, January 18th at 2:00 PM at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary. Others are welcome and encouraged to participate virtually via link below.
