Darlene Ethel Brown was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota on July 15, 1944 to Ethel and Robert Brown. She graduated as a proud Bomber from Barnum Minnesota in 1962. She moved to Minneapolis MN and worked for Account Temps being assigned to business office positions for numerous companies, including AAA. Darlene enjoyed going out with her friends for bowling and playing softball. She met the love of her life, Edmund Thorson, at a softball game celebration.
Darlene married Edmund Thorson on October 10, 1970 in Minneapolis MN. Shortly after their marriage they left the cold Minnesota weather and moved to sunny Arizona to start their married life. Dar pursued a career in accounting upon moving to Arizona. She worked for the Department of Transportation; held a position as a Trust Accountant for Take Charge America, a consumer credit counseling nonprofit company; and was employed as a controller for a large investment firm. She also worked for a Phoenix based CPA firm performing income tax services. For many years Darlene was self-employed building a successful income tax practice. Her coworkers and clients described Dar as kind, trustworthy, reliable, professional, and a hard worker. These traits definitely reflect Dar’s strong Finnish heritage and in Finland they would say that Dar had “sisu”.
Dar was a quiet woman who was blessed with a core group of dear friends. They enjoyed going out to lunch, rousing games of Scrabble and Yahtzee, and supported one another through both the good and tough times in their lives. She was an attentive listener, laughed easily, and a loyal friend. She was a sports enthusiast, particularly a devoted Diamondbacks fan but stayed true to her Minnesota roots and also cheered on the Minnesota Twins. Dar had varied interests that included daily Sudoku puzzles (she was a whiz), a devoted Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune watcher, and she had a soft spot for all animals. Dar will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all who loved her.
Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, Edmund Thorson, parents, Ethel and Robert Brown, brother Dennis Brown, nephew Wade Brown, grandparents, and many aunts and uncles and cousins. She is survived by her brother Lanny (Mary) Brown of Montevideo Minnesota, her sister Robin Brown (DeeAnn Trotta) of Duluth, Minnesota, sister-in-law Deanie Brown, nephew Jason Brown, niece Julie (Joe) Quaal, niece Lana (Adam Roen) Brown, nephew Matthew (Kayla) Brown, great nephews Mitchell and Jack Quaal, Jeremy and Justin Brown, great nieces Jenna Brown, Anika, Nina, Julia, Maia, and Cora Brown and special friends AJ and Madie Roen.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Griswold Home Care (special recognition to caregivers Tara, Alia, Erika, and Michelle); Vital Link Advocates (Bridget and Kristin); and Hospice of the Valley for their tender care, love and support during Dar’s extended illness.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your favorite organization in Dar’s name or to any of her favorites listed below:
Choice Unlimited (1829 E Superior St, Duluth MN 55812 - choiceunlimited.org); St. Jude's, (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 - stjude.org); American Cancer Society (PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 - donate3.cancer.org); Best Friends Animal Society (5001 Angel Canyon Rd., Kanab, Utah 84741-5000 - bestfriends.org). To donate online, please refer to each organization’s website.
A private memorial service will be held at the Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, 200 West Beardsley Road, Phoenix, AZ. Due to the pandemic, masks will be required and no food reception will be held. The services will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixMemorialPark/ for those who cannot attend in person.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18