Darlene H. Mahlum passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2025 due to complications from Multiple Myeloma.
She was born April 7, 1935 to Harry and Dorthy (Broers) Benson at Faith Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She started her education at the country school of Cheerful and later transferred to and graduated from Gary High School. Later in life she took classes at the University of Minnesota toward a counseling degree.
She married Werner Mahlum in August of 1954, they farmed for several years in Sundal township where she helped on the farm, cooking for the hired men, hauling fertilizer and helping with harvest. She served on several committees while Werner was a county commissioner. Most of the time helping unwed mothers or disadvantaged children. She taught 8th grade Sunday school at Sundal Lutheran Church for many, many years! If she wasn’t doing volunteer work, she worked several jobs but the ones she talked about the most were assisting the pharmacist at Pioneer Drug and being a CNA at the Fertile Nursing Home.
During her years in Fertile, she enjoyed mornings having coffee on the deck and entertaining guests after church at their lake home on Maple Lake.
Her adventurous spirit led her to Bismarck where she worked at Herberger’s and was the first Mc- Mom at the Ronald McDonald House. From there she volunteered at Medora and eventually managed the “Stage Barn” for the TR Medora Foundation. She continued to make annual trips to Medora to enjoy the Musical and connect with former staff and friends until two years ago when her health wouldn’t permit the long drive across North Dakota.
She spent nearly 45 years in Mesa, AZ where she volunteered at two different hospitals. In 2006 she married Pierre Haumont from Arizona, and he exposed her to riding ATV’s in the desert. They had 4 years together, dancing and volunteering in Medora before his death in 2010.
She decided to simplify her life and moved to Moorhead for the summers and evidentially moved to Eventide and finally to Detroit Lakes to be closer to her daughter.
She is survived by her two children, Robin (Kim) Mahlum and Rhonda (Randy) Vaagen; three grandchildren, Dawn (Darin) Rice, Jami (John) Revier and Jessi (Ben) Hagen; step grandchildren, Meagan (Andy Schmitz) Vaagen and Garrett Mills; three great grandchildren, Hailee (Cody) Benson, Eve Revier and Bella Hagen; one great-great grandchild that lit up her world, Brody Benson! As well as one niece that treated her like a mother, Stormy Todd (your almost daily calls to “chit chat” were amazing!); siblings, Bea Laubach and Wen Benson; brother-in-law, Dave Clairday; and several nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her husbands, Werner Mahlum and Pierrie Haumont; parents, Harry Benson and Dorthy Blosmoe; siblings, Harley (Lois) Benson, Wanda (Larry) Eliason, and Jen Clairday; and great-great granddaughter, Paisley Dawn Benson.
She was the happiest if she was dancing and working! She liked to be busy, helping others make this world a better place. Even as the cancer progressed, she would say, “I can’t complain. A lot of people are worse off than me.” She fought a good fight, she finished the race and she kept the faith.”
The family would like to thank all the friends and relatives that made her life a little bit better! She cherished you all!
Memorials can be given to a charity of your choice or the TR Medora Foundation, 1611 E Century Ave, Suite 100, Bismarck, ND 58503.
Funeral Service: 1:00 PM, Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.
Visitation: 11:00 AM until the time of the service on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home.
Interment: Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Fertile, MN.
View the guestbook and share condolences online at www.eriksonvikfh.com
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home of Fertile, Minnesota
Tags:
