Darline Marjorie Dirks, age 91 and 10 months, peacefully returned to her heavenly home on June 14, 2024 in her Crookston, MN home, with family near her side. Darline was born and later baptized in Belview, MN, Redwood County, on August 13, 1932, the fourth child of seven to Clifford and Erma C. (Brockman) Hultquist. 
Darline attended elementary school in Belview, MN. She moved independently to Olivia, MN in 1946, at the age of 15. She was confirmed at First Lutheran Church in 1946 and graduated from Olivia High School in 1950. Furthering her education at Mankato State University, she graduated with a teacher’s degree in 1952.
On August 2, 1953, Darline was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Robert D. Dirks, at Augustana Lutheran Church, in Belview, MN. They shared over 52 years of marriage. Darline taught second and third grades in Lamberton, MN and St Paul, MN during which time Robert completed his college education and served in the United States Army in Korea.
From 1955 to 1970, Darline and Robert made their home in Olivia, MN and raised three daughters, Laurie, Wendy and Julie. While living in Olivia, she was a busy homemaker and leader in the community. At the United Methodist Church, she was a Sunday school teacher, Music Director, and a trio singer. In the community, she was a member of a Birthday Club, an avid bridge player and had a large circle of very close friends.
The family moved to Crookston, MN, on January 3, 1970 to open a new, family run, Ben Franklin variety retail store. It operated until March 19, 2005. Darline was the store accountant and managed the office for 35 years. The duties covered scheduling, payroll, paying invoices, and everything in between. She attended, and was active, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, and even started a youth group. Over the years, she was a master of Bridge, playing in up to five different clubs. Sports, especially Twins baseball and NASCAR, were a favorite pastime.
Teaching was Darline’s passion. By the age of five, she knew it was her calling. Whether it was in a classroom, tutoring, study groups large and small, or one on one, she loved to discuss, lead and teach. Often, she said, “Knowledge came through her and was to be shared”. Over the years, she researched and studied many topics in her home library containing more than a thousand books. Subjects were new age and outside the box, pushing for expanded thought and thinking. Fun fact, she was an expert on Numerology. Teacher truly is the one word to describe Darline.
Darline loved any occasion to celebrate. She was a creative and fun mom! Birthdays, anniversaries all holidays and just because, became a reason to gather as a family or with friends, spending the day visiting and playing games. Car rides were full of singing, birthday parties were large, crafts were always being made, books being read and bedtime meant hearing her play piano for a bit, she was self-taught. Grandson’s, Dylan 30, and Grant 27, called her Grammy. Although they lived a long distance away, she made every visit interesting, full of activities, unforgettable memories and of course, teaching.
Darline left her family with a plethora of momisums, new ideas and wisdom for living which are held as treasures. She expressed, “If you want to find me, I’ll be in the libraries and universities of heaven reading, studying and learning”. Surviving family includes daughters Laurie Dirks (Donald Rudnick), of Glyndon, MN, Wendy (Andy) Covert, of Centreville, VA and Julie (Stephen) Wogan, of Crookston, MN. Grandsons Dylan (Kimmy) Covert, of Alexandria, VA and Grant Covert, of Wilmington, NC, along with a large extended family. Blessed be the memory of Darline Marjorie Dirks. She will live in our hearts forever.
The Celebration of Darline’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, Crookston. Visitation with the family will be for one hour prior to the service. The Celebration will be livestreamed by going to Darline’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view. Messages of condolence may be offered to the family on the funeral home website as well.
