Darlene Warren, age 90, most recently of Cambridge, arrived in Heaven on February 21, 2018. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date, with interment at Greenwood Cemetery in Park Rapids, Minnesota.
Darlene Luella Fradenburgh arrived on this earth on May 2, 1927, in Duluth, Minnesota. She was the third of nine children born to Rev. Floyd L. and Luella Mae (Gordon) Fradenburgh. After living in several states where Rev. Fradenburgh served various congregations, Darlene and the Fradenburgh family arrived in Nevis, Minnesota, where she spent most of her childhood and teen-aged years. Darlene graduated as Salutatorian of the Class of 1944 of Nevis High School. Following graduation, she attended St. Paul Bible Institute, and worked in Nevis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
Darlene was united in marriage to Murray Lee Warren on August 15, 1947, following Murray’s service in the U.S. Army during WWII. Murray graduated from Bemidji State Teacher’s College in 1948 and began his career as a high school science and math teacher in Boy River, Minnesota, and Backus, Minnesota.
The young Warren family arrived in Crookston, Minnesota in August of 1955, and this became Darlene and Murray’s home for the next 55 years. They raised six children, who all graduated from Crookston Central High School. Darlene was known as a faithful and skillful wife, mother, homemaker, and musician.
For several years, Darlene and Murray enjoyed spending winters in Mesa, Arizona. In November of 2010, they arrived in Cambridge, Minnesota, to make their home within the Grace Pointe community. Darlene cherished more than 66 years of marriage to her life-long, one-and-only sweetheart, until Murray entered Heaven on November 26, 2013.
Darlene is survived by her six children: Lu (Ron) Sundheim of New London, MN; Rhoda (Jim Held) Warren of Madison, WI; Mary Lynn (Gerald) Hoard of Waterloo, IA; Mark (Susan) Warren of Normal, IL; Leah (Art) Volker of Cambridge, MN; and Maggie (Tom) Nitti of White Bear Lake, MN. She also leaves 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and four sisters: Dorothy Westby Stansell, Elaine Case, Marilyn Graba, and Mary Ellen Nelson. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, her parents, one brother: Floyd G. Fradenburgh; three sisters: Phyllis Hopster, Gail Stenbro, and Norma English, and one great-grandson.
Darlene loved being home with her family more than any other experience in her life. Her family misses her deeply, but we are grateful that she has finally arrived in her ultimate Home, and will live there forever with her Savior and those she has loved so long and so well.
You are in my thoughts and prayers as you grieve your loss. Gold bless you and keep you close in your time of sadness.
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
Darlene was my very special friend. Love from Gloria Briden
Darlene was a beautiful woman on the inside and out. She so frequently and generously shared about the amount of love she had for her family. She was humble and kind. I was blessed to know her.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Julie
I have wonderful memories of Aunt Darlene. As a child, I loved visiting their beautiful home in Crookston. Darlene was a welcoming and gracious hostess. My fondest memories of Darlene are a shopping expedition to Park Rapids during a Fradenburgh family reunion. We were in one of many gift shops in town and I could not make up my mind about purchasing an item. Darlene turned to me and said “you should buy it—-you deserve it.” I always think of that when I’m indecisive about whether to buy something. When we first moved to Mesa and Darlene & Murray were in AZ for the winter, my mom, Darlene and I spent a wonderful day baking together. I am grateful I was able to get to know her as an adult. Love, Lee.
We remembered Darlene in this morning in church, our Women Ministries Sunday. So appropriate for this wonderful woman who shared so much with us over the years we were privileged to have her at our church. Just thinking of her always brings a smile to our faces, as we are reminded of her sweet smile and sweeter spirit. We will be sending a gift to the Gideon’s Ministry in her memory.