Darlene Faye (Jennings) Van Orden, 75, was born on September 24, 1941 in Des Moines, Iowa to Edwin (Ed) and Edith Jennings. She passed peacefully on Monday, June 4, 2018 at Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie.
Her family moved to Half Way, Missouri in 1948 and she grew up on a farm there. She loved music as a child and she recorded her first song on a 45 record. She played sports in school and graduated Half Way High School as valedictorian of her senior class. She attended college at SMSU in Springfield, Missouri before marrying her first husband and starting a family. She had one daughter and two sons and then divorced in 1969.
Darlene worked as an executive secretary and bookkeeper throughout her career. While she worked and took care of her children, she continued to pursue her love of music and became a member of a country music band. She sang and played the guitar for several years and people came from all around to hear her sing “How Great Thou Art.”
Darlene married the love of her life in 1988 and moved to Wyoming. She enjoyed reading, cross stitch, hunting and fishing, and flower gardening. She worked as a bookkeeper in Rawlins and retired from City Market. After retiring, she volunteered her time at the Thrift Shop and the Garden Club in Encampment. She never forgot a birthday, a holiday, or a thank you. Her selfless and giving heart was loved by everyone that knew her.
She is survived by her husband, Merle Van Orden; daughter Sandra (Derossett) Bradley; sons Michael Derossett, Gregory Derossett, Raymond Van Orden, Victor Van Orden; brothers Dale Jennings, Don Jennings; nephew Lloyd Jennings; 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren; many more relatives and dear friends in Wyoming, Kansas, and Missouri.
It was Darlene’s wishes that no services to be held and for cremation to take place. She is buried at the Encampment Cemetery, Block 19, Lot 19.
Memorial contributions may be made in Darlene’s name to the Meredith and Jeannie Ray Cancer Center in Laramie.
Reader Comments(0)