Darlene Marie (Uecker) Olson, 67, of Blue Earth, Minn., died Tuesday Sept. 27, at the Seasons Hospice House in Rochester, Minn., after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Memorial service will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, at Winnebago Lutheran Church in rural Lake Mills, Iowa, with Pastor Bill Peters officiating. Darlene’s family will greet family and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street in Lake Mills, Iowa, 50450, and then again one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will take place a later date at Salem Memorial Cemetery in Lake Mills. Memorial contributions can be made to Seasons Hospice House, 5650 Weatherhill Road SW, Rochester, MN 55902.

Darlene Marie was born June 10, 1944, in Austin, to Russell Uecker and Fay (Smalley) Uecker. She grew up in Lyle, Minn., the middle child of seven. Darlene married Alvin Olson on Nov. 24, 1962, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle. Darlene and Alvin had four children, Darlene stayed at home to raise her two sons and two daughters until the passing of Alvin in 1980.

When Darlene took a job as a nurses’ aide at St. Lukes Lutheran Home in Blue Earth, Minn., she did not realize that beyond family and friends, she would find her next great joy in life. Darlene loved the residents and her co-workers. She found great satisfaction and pride in caring for others. She worked at St. Lukes for 28 years before retiring because of health reasons.

Darlene was a doting daughter, sister, mother and grandmother who always put other people’s needs before her own and was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her grandchildren.

Darlene Marie is survived by her mother, Fay Uecker of Blue Earth; children, Thomas (Jill) Olson of Forest City, Iowa, Jody Olson of Rochester, James (Dawn) Olson of Lake Mills and Robin (Kevin) Singelstad of Northwood, Iowa; grandchildren, Amanda (Brian Lannoye), Rebecca Olson, Seth Olson, Bryon Olson, Jacob Olson, Anna Singelstad, Bianca Singelstad; siblings, Danny (George) Ritz of Eagle River, Alaska, Lola (Terry) Bishop of Las Vegas, Janet Chamberland of Blue Earth, John (Debbie) Uecker of Austin, Roger Uecker of Blue Earth; sister-in-law, Sadie Uecker of Elm City, N.C.; many loving nieces and nephews.

Darlene Marie was preceded in death by her husband Alvin Albert Olson; father Russell Uecker, brother Charles Uecker and sister-in-law Ellen Uecker.