Darlene E. (Gydesen) Petersen

Darlene E Petersen, 89 of Wolbach NE passed away Friday, October 15, 2021 at CHI Health - St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 21, 2021 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Wolbach with Pastor Glenda Pearson officiating.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to services and burial will be at Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach following services.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for designation at a later date.

Darlene was born October 4, 1932 in Gosper County near Elwood, Nebraska on the family farm to Fred and Elsie Gydesen.  She went to a country school thru 8th grade and then the family moved North of Scotia, Nebraska.  During the 9th grade, Darlene stayed with her grandparents in Scotia and then later during that school year she rented an apartment with classmate, Mildred (Ironson) Beck.  During the summer time the girls worked at an egg candling facility near Grand Island so they would have enough money for necessities during the school year.

During 10th-12th grade, Darlene stayed with Clarence and Janet Sixel family in Scotia.  To maintain room and board, she cleaned, cooked and took care of the children all while finishing her high school education.  Darlene graduated in 1951.  She met Willis Petersen in 1950 at a dance in Wolbach.  Darlene & Willis got married in 1951 and two weeks later Willis was deployed to Korea.  She then moved to Grand Island and worked at Kaufmann’s Store.  Willis came home from the service in 1953 and the couple bought a farm northwest of Wolbach.  There they raised their three children, Deborah, Steven & Karen.  Willis passed away in 1989.

Darlene loved working in her yard and flower gardens.  She was a landscape painter and was a member of the Paint Dobbers, a group of rural women who had artistic talent. Darlene loved to decorate her home inside and outside for the holidays. She taught her daughters how to sew, cook, draw, paint and how to clean a chicken.

Darlene was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and served as the President and Secretary of WELCA.  She served as a Vice President and Poppy Chairman for the Women’s American Auxiliary.  She made quilts for the church high school graduates, quilts for the Camp Carol auction fundraisers, sewed school bags for third world countries, medical bags for veterans, and baked and cooked for many community events.  She loved to travel and gamble, but enjoyed being with her family the most.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Willis, sisters, Eloris Negley, & Lorrena Weverka, brothers, LeRoy Gydesen, Duane Gydesen, & Gerald Gydesen.

She is survived by her children, Deborah (Doug) McDonald of Grand Island, Steven (Peggy) Petersen of Wolbach, and Karen (Paul) Jenkins of Anchorage, Alaska, grandchildren, Janelle McDonald of Grand Island, Jennifer McDonald of St. Paul, Brad McDonald of St. Libory, Kenneth Jenkins of Anchorage, Alaska and Bryan Jenkins of Anchorage, Alaska,  7 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, a brother, Orville (Yvonne) Gydesen, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

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