Darlene Steiger

We rejoice in the Lord, Darlene has gone home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 19, 2011. Darlene was born on June 4, 1940, in Wadena, Minnesota at the hospital. She is the only daughter of Rev. Carl and Olga (Sovde) Berg who lived in Sebeka, Minnesota at the time. She moved several times as her father was a Lutheran Free Church Pastor. Darlene was especially thankful after she heard her father, his parents and siblings were scheduled to come to America on the Titanic but decided to go on a earlier ship. Darlene graduated from high school at Salem Academy in Salem, Oregon then received her RN Degree from Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis in 1961. Her mother died in 1961 so Darlene returned home to take care of her brother and her father. In Warren, Minnesota she met her future husband, Ken, who was farming. They were married on July 7, 1962. They built and managed a Good Samaritan Nursing Home in East Grand Forks where Darlene was the Director of Nurses. They also managed a Good Samaritan Home in Greeley, Colorado and Park Nursing Home in St. Louis Park. In 1980, they bought the Hibbing Nursing Home and worked there seventeen years before retiring to Alexandria. Darlene attended UND College of Nursing to get her Bachelor?s Degree of Nursing, Carlson School of Management to get a Masters Degree in Public Health and took courses to be a Parish Nurse. Darlene and Ken started attending the Alexandria Covenant Church where they felt accepted by that fellowship. Darlene accepted Christ as her personal Savior when she was 10 years of age. As she became older her love for her Savior increased as did her love for the elderly. Darlene became the church?s first Parish Nurse and was involved in the local Elder Network, Task Force on Aging, and the Task Force Against Domestic Abuse. It became her passion as she worked with the new mothers and their babies; doing home, hospital, nursing home and elderly visits. Her ministry was to hurting people and giving advice for health problems. Singing in the church choir was a joy for her. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth William Steiger; children: Lorie Darlene Steiger of Chester, NH, Mark Kenneth Steiger of Lakeville, MN, Katie Marie (Patrick) Mullaney of Nashua, NH, grandchildren: Steiger Brown, Raegan Brown, David Mullaney, Audrey Mullaney and Molly Mullaney; brother, Allan (Danette) Berg, Niece, Michelle (Dillon) Jensen, Niece Alicia; step mother, Helen Berg, step sister, Elaine Neff & her sons. She was preceded in death by her parents: Rev. Carl & Olga Berg; infant son, Paul Kenneth. Funeral services were held on Thursday, December 22, 2011, 11:00 a.m. at Alexandria Covenant Church with Rev. John LeVahn officiating. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery in Ida Township. Arrangements were with Anderson Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.net