Darlene Elizabeth Bergin DeReu, 96

Darlene Elizabeth Bergin DeReu was born on Oct. 22, 1928 in Jasper Minn., spending most of her younger life there until she left to attend South Dakota’s Teaching College.

 She taught for a time in Volga SD.  In 1947 she married Ed DeReu, and in 1952 they moved to Montana, spending the rest of her life here  raising their seven children.  In the ‘50s she was an active member fo the Ground Observers Corp, she was also a member of the Coram PTA.  She was a life long member of St. Richard’s Catholic Church. 

She thoroughly enjoyed her children and grandchildren being the biggest fan of their many activities.  She worked at North Valley Hospital for 20 years, she earned the Whitefish Jaycees Boss of the Year Award in 1984. 

She spent the last years of her life first at Beehive Homes in Columbia Falls and lastly at Brendan House in Kalispell.  She always had such good things to say about both places was always  so grateful for the wonderful care she received. 

 She passed peacefully on June 19, 2025. Darlene is survived by five children, her sons,  Tim (Dorothy) Pasco WA., Tom (Mary) Minn, and Chris of Kalispell; her daughters, Beth (Mark Hagen) Trout Creek, Montana and Mary DeReu of Phoenix, AZ.; nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, four sisters, her son Wayne, and daughter Beci DeReu Miller, and her ex husband Ed DeReu.  

“God’s finger touched her and she gently slipped away, from earths dark shadows to a brighter day. God saw the road was getting rough, the hills were hard to climb. He gently closed her weary eyes and whispered peace be thine. To a beautiful garden she has gone to a land of perfect rest, and though she has gone, she lives on in the garden of our memories.”  

At Darlene’s request there will be no services, internment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.