May 5, 1932 – February 5, 2024
Darlene Mae Houck Olesen was born on May 5, 1932, in Broadland, South Dakota. She attended country school for two years before moving to Brookings, South Dakota. In Brookings, she attended public school. She graduated from Brookings High School in the class of 1950. After high school, she worked at Felberg’s Cafe until she married.
Francis “Ole” Olesen and Darlene Houck Olesen were married on January 3, 1953. Ole preceded her in death on December 17, 2007. The couple moved to Long Beach, California, where Ole was stationed in the Navy. Their son, Gary Lee, was born November 1, 1956. Scott Wayne, their son, was born and died on April 23, 1963. He was buried at Ft. Rose Cranes, California, and is now moved to Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Moab, Utah. Becky Sue, their daughter, was born in Moab, Utah, on December 1, 1965.
While Ole was in the service, they lived in San Diego and Long Beach. They spent a summer in Salina, Kansas, and about 18 months in Abilene, Texas, while Ole worked for General Dynamics in the early 1960s.
They moved to Moab in December 1963. Darlene was a homemaker until Becky started school. In 1974, she began working at the First Security Bank. In 1991, she retired. Her hobbies included crocheting, plastic canvas, macramé, quilting, card making, embroidery and gardening.
She is survived by son, Gary Olesen and wife Marilyn (Moab, UT); daughter, Becky Strauss and husband Doran (Abilene, KS); five grandchildren: Brandy (Mike) Petty, Alicia (Seth) Schultz, Cody (Dana) Olesen, Ben (Desi) Gilliland, Courtney (Telea) Strauss; and 10 great-grandchildren: Coltlin Petty, Tristan Gilliland, Khloe Gilliland, Sofia Schultz, Rhett Olesen, Haidyn Gilliland, Grayson Gilliland, Ryah Olesen, Adelaide Schultz, and Lennon Strauss. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy & Beulah Houck; and her sisters, Opal Houck and Geneva Mork.
She is buried at Sunset Memorial Cemetery with Ole and Scott.
