Darlene Dodge

Darlene A. Dodge, 69 Cold Spring Apr. 10, 1939 – Nov. 10, 2008 Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 14 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring for Darlene (Stein) Dodge, beloved wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister and friend passed peacefully at 5:25 pm Monday at Assumption Nursing Home, Cold Spring, after a two-year battle with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her husband and family were at her side. Interment will be at St. Boniface Cemetery in Cold Spring. Friends may visit after 4 p.m. Thursday and from 9 – 10 a.m. Friday morning at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring. A rosary with the Christian Women will be at 4 pm followed by Parish Prayers Thursday at the Wenner Funeral Home. Darlene was born April 10, 1939 in Maine Prairie, Minnesota (now part of Kimball) to Anton and Clara (Bauer) Stein. She and her two younger sisters grew up helping their parents run the family farm. Darlene and Howard Dodge were married October 7, 1961 in Kimball and recently celebrated their 47th anniversary. She was a member of St. Boniface Parish and the Christian Women. After working sixteen years with Early Childhood Family Education in Cold Spring, Darlene retired in 2001. She loved her job and coworkers, but left her job to take care of her husband, who was diagnosed with PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy). She embraced the challenge of caring for him with endless energy and optimism. In December, 2006, Darlene was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and by May, 2007, it had metastasized to her brain. After brain surgery, she became unable to care for herself. In June, 2007, Darlene and Howard moved into the Assumption Nursing Home, where they shared a room together. Darlene’s illness progressed much faster than Howard’s, and in her final months, Howard returned the love and support that Darlene had given him, holding her hand as she suffered the effects of chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and the tumors themselves. Together, Darlene and Howard lived a life of boundless love, devotion, and generosity toward each other and their family. Darlene’s gentle spirit, her kindness, and ability to see the goodness in life will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Survivors include her husband, Howard Dodge of Cold Spring; children, Daniel (Heidi) of Monticello, Toni (Randy) Scheper of Lakeville, Steven (Marcia) of St. Louis Park, Joseph (Stephanie) of Oregon City, Oregon, Robert (Debbie) of Coon Rapids, Kenneth (Heike) of Little Falls, and Tammy (Brian) Ecker of North Mankato; and seventeen grandchildren; mother, Clara Stein of Kimball; sisters, Laura (Barry) Hanson of Annandale, and Rosella “Sally” (John) Decker of Cold Spring; numerous nieces and nephews; and loyal friend, Maxine Backes of Cold Spring. Darlene was preceded in death by her father, Anton Stein, and niece, Susan “Suzie” Decker. You can feel confident that your online gift is being placed through a secure site, but if you prefer to send a gift via mail, please make your checks payable to Society of PSP and send your gift to : CurePSP (The Society for PSP) Executive Plaza III 11350 McCormick Road Suite 906 Hunt Valley, MD 21031 Please call 1-800-457-4777 if you have any questions.

Darlene Dodge

April 10, 1939 - November 13, 2008