Darleen Ruth Linde

Darleen Ruth Linde, age 91, passed away on February 24, 2026, at Addington Place in Carroll, Iowa. Darleen previously lived in Westside, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia with Pastor Andrew Noble officiating. Music will be by Carolyn Kerkhoff and Crystal Bunge. Casket bearers will be her grandchildren. Burial will be in the Westside Cemetery in Westside.

Visitation will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia from 4:30 to 7:00 P.M. on Monday, March 2, 2026. The casket will be moved to the church on Tuesday morning where visitation will resume from 9:30 A.M. until 10:15 A.M prior to the service.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.

Darleen was born on June 12, 1934, to Walter and Amelia (Branning) Vetter at St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. She was a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia, Iowa, where she was baptized on July 8, 1934, and confirmed on March 21, 1948. Darleen’s faith was strong. She was a member of the Ladies Aid, serving as an officer; a VBS teacher; a member of the church quilting group; and a member of the Martha Circle, which served many funeral luncheons. She sewed hundreds of quilts for World Relief, which were tied by many children during VBS.

She grew up in the Westside area, attending country school through the eighth grade. She graduated from Westside High School in 1952.

Darleen married Kenneth Linde on September 14, 1952, at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia. Six children were born to this marriage. She and Kenneth worked together on their farm north of Westside. After Kenneth passed away in 1988, Darleen continued to live on their farm. Darleen was employed at M&M Cleaners and served as the church custodian. Having spent 71 years on the farm, she moved to Addington Place in September 2023.

Darleen faithfully attended her children’s school events, Boy Scout and Brownies activities, and sporting events. Her grandchildren loved spending time on the farm with Darleen, and the Saturday before Easter was always a busy day of dyeing twelve dozen eggs.

Darleen was active in her community. She was a member of the Westside Fortnightly Club for 53 years, the Westside Red Hat Ladies, the Westside Legion Auxiliary, served as a volunteer reader at the Ar-We-Va Schools and was a member of the Westside Community Club for many years helping with bingo.

Darleen was a collector. She collected antiques, nativities, enamelware, and especially chickens. She loved finding a good bargain.

Christmas was a very festive time for her family, who enjoyed Santa sacks and bingo. Santa sacks were filled with essential items as well as personal surprises that had been acquired throughout the year. Christmas bingo was the highlight of the day, with Darleen serving as caller and prizes for everyone. Blackout bingo brought the grand prize — a handmade Christmas quilt created by Darleen. All family members are blessed to each have their own quilt.

Survivors include her children: Pamela (Allan) Kock; Bradley (Vicki) Linde; Scott (Lorine) Linde; and Robin Hertzog; her grandchildren: Mike (Katie) Linde; Amy (Aaron) Crane; Sara (Jordan) Frew; Jason (Nicole) Kock; Bryan (Amanda) Linde; Nick (Kasey) Linde; Jamie Linde; Josh (Jenny) Linde; Mandy (Carter) Markham; and Katie Hertzog; 23 great-grandchildren; and her sisters: Virgene Behrens, Diane Schroeder, and Sandra Snyder.

Darleen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth; an infant son, Allan; her son, Kevin and his wife Kathy, son-in-law Gary Hertzog, her brother, Duane Vetter and his wife, Lucille; her brother-in-law, Butch Eifler, her parents-in-law, Eddie and Anna Linde; her brother-in-law, Harold Linde and his wife, Louisa; and her sister-in-law, Lucille Flink and her husband, Earl.