Darlene Behan

Funeral Service for Darlene Mae (Zimmerman) Behan, age 65, of Baltic, South Dakota will be held Monday, June 11, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Pastor George Sagissor III officiating. Urn bearers will be Arnold Zimmerman and Darrell Zimmerman. Honorary Urn bearers will be Linda Bunkers, Carol Day, Jane Groos, Jeanette Hayden, Dee Kulhavey, Mary Raiche, Rita Shewmake, Enid Yamasaki and Diana Zimmerman. These ladies were chosen as they were the women who escorted and cared for Darlene during her illness and her final days. Interment will be held in Lakeside Cemetery, rural Herman, Minnesota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time on Monday at St. John Lutheran Church. Darlene Mae Zimmerman Behan was born on November 21, 1946 in Wheaton, Minnesota. She grew up with her brothers on a farm in Traverse County and graduated from Wheaton High School in 1964. She continued on to Fargo Business School and later returned to work at the State Bank of Wheaton. There she met a loitering customer named Lynn Behan. They married in 1970 and resided in Edina Minnesota for most of the decade. Her daughter, Angela, was born in 1972. Several years later they chose to make a big move to Kodiak, Alaska where Lynn took a job as a Fish and Wildlife Protection Trooper. Darlene spent her early years in Alaska concentrating on raising Angela. Together they spent hours enjoying nature - beach combing, hiking and searching for the best salmon berry patch. Later, Darlene worked for the Fairbanks Clinic in Fairbanks, Alaska where she was in charge of the Accounts Payable Department. She was loved and respected by all of her co-workers, many whom stayed near and dear to her up until her last days. Darlenes personality and demeanor suited her well in Alaska. She was adventurous and resilient. Her constant quiet strength allowed her to handle anything that came at her " whether it was a charging moose or a rough day at work. Darlene had a special grace that left those around her feeling relaxed, comfortable and safe. She made the most of her time in Alaska! After moving back to South Dakota in 1995 Darlene took a job at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. She worked there for 13 years and benefitted from a great job and wonderful people surrounding her. She retired in 2008 to spend more time with her friends and family. Darlene passed away at her daughters home in Waconia, Minnesota on June 6, 2012. Darlene is survived by her husband Lynn of Baltic, South Dakota, her daughter Angela, her son-in-law Brad Rud and their children Emily and Mark of Waconia, Minnesota, loving brothers, Arnie (Rosemary) Zimmerman of Marshall, Minnesota and Darrell (Diana) Zimmerman of Herman, Minnesota and their families. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law Dianne Thoraldson and Corlys Behan, and brother-in-law Jack (Connie) Behan. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Eva Zimmerman and her brothers, Marlyn, Bill Jr. and Ronnie Zimmerman. Darlene will be dearly missed and thought of often.