Mary Darlene Hansen

ACEQUIA – Mary Darlene Wolford Hansen, age 85, of Acequia, passed away on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, at Countryside Care and Rehabilitation Center in Rupert.

She was born on Jan. 18, 1930, in Garfield, Utah, the daughter of Winfield Scott and Ida Merrick Wolford. She graduated from Acequia High School in 1948 as valedictorian of her class. She married James Nephi Hansen on June 11, 1948, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

Darlene worked at Minidoka Memorial Hospital for many years, first as a nurse’s aide, then finished as the director of laundry services. She and James later moved to Grand Junction, Colo., where they owned and operated a nursing home. Upon returning to Idaho, she was a clerical-insurance clerk in a medical office in Twin Falls.

She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had served as Young Women president, secretary of the Relief Society, taught Primary, was music director on several occasions, served a family history mission, served in the Boise Idaho Temple, served in the Twin Falls Social Services mission, performed extraction and indexing in family history for several years, and loved visiting teaching. She was also a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and helped with election polling in the Acequia Precinct.

Darlene was an outstanding homemaker and used her many talents in beautifying their home. These talents included crocheting, quilting, and doing any other types of handwork. She enjoyed collecting dolls and would often purchase them to simply give them a home. She loved to garden and looked forward to canning the food it produced. She was always picking up rocks and bringing them home. She will be fondly remembered as an outstanding cook. She collected recipes and liked to try new dishes - in which she was always willing to share. Our mother loved music and was continually singing. Above all else, she loved her family! She and Dad were sociable people, especially with their family. She loved her Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ and emulated His life by her unfailing kindness and cheerful disposition in whatever circumstances she was in. She demonstrated these Christlike attributes right up to the end.

Darlene is survived by her children, Georgia (Curtis) Bair of Acequia, Scott (Jone) Hansen of Ontario, Ore., Rebecca (Delton) Humpherys of Arco, James (Nancy) Hansen of Carlin, Nev., and Lynn (Donna) Hansen of Arco; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Sherry Lynn Anderson of Vancouver, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Dee Staker and Joy King; her husband; a stillborn daughter, Mary Naomi Hansen; and a granddaughter, KaDawn Bair.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at the Acequia LDS Church, 20403 5th St., in Acequia, with Bishop Kyle Carpenter officiating. Burial will be in the Rupert Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church.