HENDERSON, Darlene Beth (DUNN)

DUNN, HENDERSON, HAGAN, CLARKE, KOCH, MAYHUGH, NELSEN, WHITAKER, KLEIN, NERNES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/12/2017 at 11:58:01

Obituary ~ Darlene Beth (Dunn) Henderson
May 31, 1925 - January 10, 2017

Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa

Darlene Beth Henderson, age 91, the daughter of Clell and Lois (Hagan) Dunn, was born May 31, 1925, on her grandparents, Jim and Emma Dunn’s farm near Pleasanton, Iowa. She passed from this life on January 10, 2017, at the Travis Clarke home near Leon, Iowa.

Darlene grew up in the Mercer County, Missouri area. She attended Princeton High School where she sang in the chorus group all four years. After graduating, she attended 10 weeks of college at Maryville, Missouri and earned her teaching certificate. Her first year of teaching was at Toad Valley School west of Saline, Missouri. She had a total of five students and earned eighty-five dollars per month. The next two years she taught at Hickory Grove School near her parent’s home in Mercer County. It was at her first school Box Supper that she met Lester Wayne Henderson. They were married on December 31, 1945. To this union, twin boys, Garry and Larry, were born. They lived on the home farm near Davis City, Iowa. Later in 1980, they moved to the farm Wayne bought just south of Davis City. It was where they lived until his death in 2011.

Darlene was constantly in motion. Being raised on a farm and later as a farm wife, she was accustomed to doing all the chores that came with that kind of life. Taking care of the animals, milking cows, and tending to chickens were just a few of her daily responsibilities. For many years, Darlene raised a large garden and devoted her summer hours to keeping it weed-free. She loved her flowers and had many flowerbeds around the house and garden. Talking on the telephone and writing letters were things she enjoyed doing in between her work. Darlene has always attended church faithfully. As the boys were growing up, they attended New Salem Baptist Church. After she and Wayne moved closer to Davis City, she attended the Davis City United Methodist Church and then, later in life, the Calvary Baptist Church in Leon. She loved the Lord dearly and enjoyed singing and listening to hymns. She was very gifted with crafts and enjoyed making posters and bulletin boards for church. Darlene was part of a group of Davis City ladies who frequently served funeral dinners for families in the community. She could always be counted on to provide one of her home-made angel food cakes or a batch of sugar cookies.

One of Darlene’s most beloved roles was that of grandmother. She made her grandchildren feel like they were the most important thing in the world to her. Her home was always welcoming and the grandchildren frequently stayed overnight. While she never missed a chance to say “Grandma loves you”, she didn’t have to because her actions spoke louder than her words. The thoughtful things that she did, like countless hours of storybook reading, her bottomless jug of ice tea in the fridge, her hand-made cards for every holiday, baking their favorite cookies, caring for the little spot they claimed in her garden, and playing hide the thimble, are just a few of the childhood memories that will be greatly cherished.

A word that best describes Darlene would be servant. She was completely selfless, willing to do or give up anything for others. Her smile and kindness were a blessing to all those around her. She had a sweetness that shined through even until the time of her passing.

Preceding Darlene in death were her parents; husband of 65 years, Wayne; brother, Doyle Dunn; brother-in-law, Dale Henderson; sister-in-law, Dorothy (Nels) Koch.

Cherishing her memory are her twin sons, Garry Arthur Henderson and wife, Cathy of Davis City, Iowa and Larry Wayne Henderson and wife, Heather of St. Ann, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Matthew & Kelli Henderson, John & Michelle Henderson, Sadie & Adam Mayhugh, Jacy & Sam Nelsen, Lucy & Matt Whitaker, Tyler & Heather Henderson, and Luke Henderson & fiancee Paige; 18 great-grandchildren, Caden, Katrina, Taylor, Gwen, Melinda, Kyle, Owen, triplets Audrey, Lauren, and Connor, twins Cody and Kinley, Ethan, Beth, Titus, Amos, Mavys, and Garrett; sister, Carol & Don Klein; sister-in-law, Maizel Dunn; caregivers, Dwight and Judy Nernes; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 10 a.m. Friday, January 13, 2017, with Rev. Max Carmichael officiating. Burial will be in the Hamilton Cemetery, Pleasanton, Iowa.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2017

Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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