Darlene Marie Bird

Darlene died Monday, June 9, 2014 at her home, surrounded by her family who have been with her during her struggle with cancer.
Darlene Marie Bird was born at home, 803 Jefferson Street on October 29, 1936, to Ralph and Marie (Sorenson) Leidal.  She attended school in Albert Lea and graduated from Freeborn High School.  In 1952, she began her employment as Supervisor with F.W. Woolworth Co.  On October 30, 1954, she was married to Lyle Bird at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.  She had lived in Albert Lea, Bath Store, Ellendale and then at the Hartland Shoe Store.  After that she was at Lea College where she began work at the library.  She then transferred to the business office where she worked until she closed the door to the college on the last day. In August 1973 she was employed as supervisor at the Southern Minnesota Human Development Center, Freeborn-Mower Mental Health Center then at the Freeborn County Department of Human Services (Mental Health Center). Darlene was also very involved in her husband’s business, providing monuments to many families. She had a brain aneurysm in 1990 and had to retire in January 1991.  She had another brain aneurysm in October 2006.  She was a member of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church where she was a former Sunday school teacher, bible school teacher, choir member and member of the Rachael circle.  She was currently still with the Altar Guild.  
She is survived by her husband, Lyle; son Robert (Sharon) of Hartland; daughters Julie (William) Gauthier of Minneapolis, Terry (Donald) Jacobs of Worthing, SD, Cynthia (Paul) Hinkley of Freeborn and Brenda Bird of Bloomington; grandchildren Brett (Heidi) Mathiason, Mark Gauthier, Chad, Travis, and Tessa Jacobs, Nicole Bird, Natalie (James) Schultz, Matthew (Tanya) Bird, Amy (Bryan) Schroeder, Kelly Hinkley and Sarah Wildenaur, and Levi Hinkley; great-grandchildren, Max and Kane Mathiason, Anita Jacobs, Jordan and Jacob Schultz, Gavin, Olivia, Elyse, Harper, Baby Boy (due November 2), Hailee, Ongelle, Gabriel and Josey Schroeder; sister Gladys Sigurdson; and  sister-in-law, Rosella Peek.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Lester (Lavonne) Leidal; sisters Betty (Bruce) Reed and Ellen Mae (Charles) Boyer, and Mary Helen (Harry) Peterson; brothers-in-law Ralph Sigurdson,  Wallace Peek, Berdine (Francis) Larson and Jerry (Bernice) McArdle
Darlene’s family would like to thank the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice for their care. In Lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice, the Altar Guild at Cross of Glory, the Hartland Cemetery, or the Freeborn Ambulance.