Darlene "Blondie" M. Kuhl

November 25, 1930 - January 20, 2013 Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 26, 2013 at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin, MN for Darlene “Blondie” M. Kuhl, age 82, who died Sunday morning at Pine Villa Nursing Home, Melrose, MN. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Relatives and friends may call from 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. Friday at the St. Martin Parish Hall in St. Martin. Parish prayers will be at 4:00 p.m. followed by a rosary with the St. Martin Christian Women and Catholic United Financial. Visitation will continue from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the parish hall. Darlene Mary was born in New Munich, MN to Herman and Veronica (Torborg) Behnen on November 25, 1930. She grew up in New Munich, MN and attended school in New Munich until the 8th grade. To help out the family, she never went to high school and began work as a home aid for young mothers in the New Munich area when they first had their babies. She and her sister Carol later went to work in a local canning factory and helped bring home money to support the family farm. Blondie married Hugo “Hooky” J. Kuhl on June 27, 1950 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, New Munich, MN. They were happily married for 57 years. Once her own kids were in school she went to work for Chick’s Supper Club in Melrose for many years as a cook. Throughout her working years, preparing and serving food was her specialty. Blondie was a member of St. Martin Christian Women and Parish, and Catholic United Financial. She enjoyed cooking, baking, canning fruits and vegetables, playing cards and bingo, embroidering dish towels, quilting, traveling, bowling, making rag rugs, and garage sales. Her dill pickles were legendary. Survivors include her children, Ken (Dawn) of North Granby, CT, Dennis (Sheila) of Wilsall, MT, Rick (Barb) of Bloomington, Charlie of White Bear Lake (friend, Debbi Dusik), Jeanne (Kent) Engebretson of Starbuck, and Kathi (Shane) Meisner of Leonardtown, MD; brother and sisters, Melvin (Bernice) Behnen, Bertie Lou (Sylvester) Gruber, Leora Fenech, Alyce (Red) Bennett, Carol (Vern) Linz, Theresa Drone, and Veronica Kunstleben; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law; Matthew (Sharon) Kuhl, Sr. Rita Kuhl, O.S.F., and Bernelda Kuhl; 7 grandchildren, Phil (Heather) Kuhl, Emily (Tom) Filburn, Lillian Kuhl, Garrett Engebretson, Forrest Csuy, Erica Csuy, Jordan Kuhl; 8 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Hugo "Hooky"; infant son, Thomas Mark; and brother, Herman Behnen, Jr. The family would like to give a special thank you to Pine Villa Nursing Home and Albany Hospice Care for the wonderful care they gave Blondie. Arrangements are with the Wenner Funeral Home in Richmond, MN.

Darlene "Blondie" M. Kuhl

November 25, 1930 - January 26, 2013