Darlene Carol Sorenson, 81

Darlene Carol Sorenson, 81, passed away peacefully in her sleep after enjoying a wonderful evening with her husband, Neil, and their friends Dec. 17, 2025.

Darlene was born March 30, 1944, in Miles City, Mont. She was the middle of three children born to Genevieve B. (Cook) and Aaron E. Gray. She attended elementary and high school at Sacred Heart. Darlene worked for several years at the Met Café in the old Milligan Building. As a single mom of three, she worked two jobs and started her college education at Miles Community College in Miles City. She then took summer classes at MSU Bozeman. In the summer of 1978, she moved her family to Missoula to continue her education. While attending school, she worked with the Head Start program. In 1980, she received her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Montana in Missoula. Upon graduation, she was employed by the Rock Springs, Wyo., school district as a social worker. 

While living in Rock Springs, she traveled down to Las Vegas to visit her son, Scott, and was introduced to Neil Sorenson, who was also from Missoula. After a few trips down to Las Vegas, Darlene and Neil were married in 1987. They made their home in Las Vegas, Nev. While living in Las Vegas, Darlene completed her master’s degree in social work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The state of Nevada employed her as a medical social worker. Together in 1994, they made their trek back to Montana. They later settled in Post Falls, Idaho, where she started her own counseling practice. Darlene always had a large garden and a yard full of fruit trees. Her garden was beautiful, and she loved it. Every year, they would plant and tend the garden, and in the fall, they canned almost everything they had grown. Together, she and Neil loved to go fishing and camping. One of her favorite places to go steelhead fishing was down on the Clearwater River in Orofino, Idaho. They became regular hosts at Huckleberry Campground on the St. Joe River in Calder, Idaho, for six summers. 

Darlene’s most beloved activities would be sewing and quilting. She enjoyed making dolls and quilts. Her greatest achievements were her quilts. She took great pride in making them. She made quilts for all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an active member of the Quilters Club in Post Falls. She received a “Best in Show” for her quilts at the Spokane County and St. Maries fairs. 

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Genevieve and Aaron Gray; a brother, Michael Gray, of Billings; and two sons, Stephen Paul and Scott Aaron Schumacher. 

She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Neil Sorenson; brother Dan Gray (Celine) of Billings; daughter Stephani Schumacher-Collins (Rusty) of Ariz.; and son Jayr Chambers (Theresa) of Henderson, Nev., grandchildren Klya Gray Medrano (James) of Roanoke, Texas, Tyler James (Ashley) of North Las Vegas, Nev., Devan Wayne (Amber) of Summerlin, Nev., great-grandchildren Maddison, Jackson, Eva, Margo, Colson and Ember — also, numerous nieces and nephews. 

At Darlene’s request, she was cremated, and a family wake will be held in Billings, and a memorial service will be held in Miles City, Mont., in June.

    Sorenson