Darlene Elizabeth Bergin DeReu, 96
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 9 months, 3 weeks AGO
Darlene Elizabeth Bergin DeReu, 96, was born on Oct. 22, 1928, in Jasper, Minnesota, spending most of her younger life there until she left to attend South Dakota's Teaching College. She taught for a time in Volga, South Dakota. In 1947, she married Ed DeReu, and in 1952, they moved to Montana, spending the rest of her life here and raising their seven children.
In the 50s, she was an active member of the Ground Observers Corps. She was also a member of the Coram PTA. She was a lifelong member of St. Richard Catholic Church. She thoroughly enjoyed her children and grandchildren, being the biggest fan of their many activities. She worked at North Valley Hospital for 20 years and she earned the Whitefish Jaycees Boss of the Year Award in 1984.
She spent the last years of her life first at Beehive Homes in Columbia Falls and lastly at Brendon House in Kalispell. She always had such good things to say about both places was always so grateful for the wonderful care she received.
She passed peacefully on June 19, 2025.
Darlene is survived by five children, her sons, Tim (Dorothy) Pasco, Washington; Tom (Mary) Minnesota and Chris of Kalispell; her daughters, Beth (Mark Hagen) Trout Creek and Mary DeReu of Phoenix; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, four sisters, her son, Wayne, daughter, Beci DeReu Miller and her ex-husband, Ed DeReu.
"God's finger touched her, and she gently slipped away from Earth's dark shadows to a brighter day. God saw the road was getting rough, the hills were hard to climb. He gently closed her weary eyes and whispered, peace be thine. To a beautiful garden she has gone to a land of perfect rest, and though she has gone, she lives on in the garden of our memories."
At Darlene's request, there will be no services. Internment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.