Darlene J. Chase, 80, Long Prairie

April 29, 1935 – August 21, 2015

Funeral Services will be at 11 am, Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at Peace United Church, Long Prairie for Darlene J. Chase, age 80, who passed away on Friday at Valley View Assisted Living, Long Prairie. Rev. Gary Taylor will officiate and burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Long Prairie. Family and friends may call from 4-8 pm, Monday at the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home – Stein Chapel, and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Darlene was born in Clarissa on April 29, 1935 to Michael and Anna (Lapitz) Sutton. She grew up in Clarissa. She was baptized at the United Methodist Church in Clarissa on April 4, 1937 by Upton E. Dahle. Darlene graduated from Clarissa High School on June 4, 1954. She married Norman Chase on June 9, 1954 at the United Methodist Church in Clarissa. She and Norman lived on a farm west of Bertha and in 1955 they moved to Long Prairie. She was a housewife and a mother. When her children were in school she worked for Wilbur Shinabarger at Jack & Jill grocery store. Later she worked for Marie’s Cafe’ as a dish washer until 2003 when she retired to take care of Norman who had cancer.

She enjoyed gardening, canning fruits, vegetables and pickles, embroidering gifts for family and friends, reading and putting jigsaw puzzles together.

Darlene was an active member of the United Methodist Church (now Peace United Church) where she sang in the choir, was president of the women’s group, wired many cones for Christmas wreaths, worked at the annual bizarre, helped Norman with janitor work. She was for several years Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School and Bible School teacher, Lay Delegate to Annual Conference, lay leader, served as Financial Secretary from 1981 to 2011. She also served on many other committees. She was also Secretary-Treasurer for Long Prairie Evergreen Cemetery Association from 1971 to 2011.

Darlene is survived by her children, Sharlene (Larry) Schroeder, Long Prairie; Willis (Gwen) Chase, Grove City; Michael (Karen) Chase, Long Prairie; Jon (Angela Manteuffel) Chase, Litchfield; and Harley (Kristi) Chase, Garfield; sister Elaine (James) Kingston, Long Prairie; brother George (Thea) Sutton, Aberdeen, Maryland; nieces and nephews; ten grandchildren, Cory (Gina) Chase, Amy (Michael) Schroeder; Matthew (Kristle) Chase; Chrystal Odin, Ashley Chase; Rachael Chase; Lance Chase; Nora Chase; Morgan Chase; and Brenan Chase; great-grandchildren, Mekayla Schroeder; Shelby Chase; Colton Schroeder and Conor Rothenberger; and two great-grandchildren on the way; step grandchildren, Kimberly (Troy) Dierkhising; Timothy (Stacey Larson) Schroeder; and step-great-grandchildren, Abbigail Schroeder; and Farrah and Eden Dierkhising.

She was preceded in death by her husband Norman in 2005, her parents, and infant brothers, Harold, Donald, Duane, and Dwight.

Casket bearers wil be Cory Chase, Matthew Chase, Lance Chase, Brenan Chase, Roger Kingston, and Jerry Danielson.