Darlene Judith Woods

Darlene Judith Woods passed away October 27, 2024 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. She was born September 1, 1945 in Mankato, Minnesota to David and Hilda (Hanel) Woods. She grew up on the family farm in South Bend Township, attending Rush Lake School through 7th grade, Immanuel Lutheran School 8th grade, Lincoln Junior High School 9th grade, and graduated from Mankato (West) High School in 1963. She attended MSU and later Mankato School of Beauty Culture.

On March 12, 1966, she married James (Jim) King, and lived in MS, MN, OH and OR during his USAF years. To that marriage were born 3 children: Grant, Graham and Crystal. They later divorced. On August 14, 1976 she married Bruce Graham and lived east of Tyler, TX. They had a daughter Ginger, but later divorced.

Darlene returned to Mankato, MN in January, 1991 where she resumed her studies at MSU, completing her BS and continuing for a MS in Community Counseling. She worked for several area companies and agencies, and spent 3 years caring for her mother at home, after which she worked at Carlson Craft in North Mankato. Following her retirement, she continued living on the farm in the house where she and her sisters, and their father before them, had grown up. Throughout her life she enjoyed her children and grandchildren, gardening and environmental concerns, reading, volunteering to help the elderly, and playing her violin and the harp that she had built from a kit.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, and a stillborn brother. She will be deeply missed by her four children: Grant (Christine) King, Kodak, TN; Graham (Patsy) King, Mankato, MN; Crystal Koenig, Mankato, MN; Ginger Graham, Saint Paul, MN. Nine Grandchildren: Elizabeth, Samuel, Conner, Jordan, Kyra, Sean, Isaac, Andrew. and Benjamin. Three sisters: Margaret Schreyer, Mary (Marvin) Schweim, and Doris Woods, nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as many friends. 

The visitation will be at Woodland Hills Funeral Home in Mankato, Thursday, November 7th from 4 to 7 pm with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 pm. Private burial. Memorial donations can be made to Gentle Shepard Ministries www.gsm.infaith.org.