Darlene M. Thompson Hanna
Darlene M (Thompson) Hanna, 81, Chanhassen, Minn., formerly from Lake Mills, graduate of Lake Mills High School and Lutheran Deacon Nursing School, passed away Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7, at Salem Lutheran, Lake Mills. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at church. Burial will be Lutheran Union Cemetery, outside Forest City.
Darlene Maxine Hanna was born June 15, 1935 in Lake Mills, to Melvin and Olga (Vermedahl) Thompson.
Darlene married Stanley Hanna on Oct. 5, 1956 at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills. After college, she and Stan settled in Plainview, Minn., where Darlene worked as a night nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minn.
The family moved to central Wisconsin, where Darlene continued to work as a RN. She also taught Healthcare Careers to high school students in the Clark County area. It was the first of its kind course to introduce students to healthcare careers. She was also instrumental in getting the Girl Scout troops started in the community and a favorite leader by the girls on various camping trips.
With Stan’s job, they moved on to Thief River Falls, Minn., where Darlene continued to work as an RN and eventually to Little Falls, Minn.
After Stan’s death in 2008, Darlene moved to Presbyterian Homes in Chanhassen Minn., to be closer to family. Darlene was a blessing to everyone around her, a shining example of compassion and unconditional love.
Darlene is survived by daughter Susan (Michael) Blake, and their children, Katie (Adam) Hughes, Saint Louis Park, Minn., Patrick, Kerry, Kelly, and Shannon Blake, Chanhassen, Minn.; son, James Hanna and his daughter, Natalie, Minneapolis, Minn.; sister, Ardis (Lynn) Sorbo, Henderson, Nevada; brother, Don Thompson, Cincinnati Ohio; sisters-in-law: Harriet (Marlin) Thompson, Lake Mills; Julie (Roger) Thompson, Spring, Texas; Karen (Rollin) Dyer, Ankeny; Marilyn (Tom) Hanna, Kensett; and Dorothy (Richard) Hanna, Joice; brother-in-law, Tom Hanna, Kensett; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Olga; husband, Stan; brothers: Marlin and Roger Thompson; sister-in-law, Deloris Hanna; and brothers-in-law: Richard Hanna, Lynn Sorbo and Rollin Dyer.
