Nov. 22, 1944 - Oct. 15, 2024
Date of Service: Oct. 21, 2024
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ALBION – Lois Darlene Wahlgren, a 79-year-old resident of Albion, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, with her family by her side.
Darlene was born November 22, 1944, at St. Valentine’s Hospital in Wendell, Idaho, the third child of John Neal Lancaster and Olive Mae Brackenbury Lancaster. She joined her brother, Robert Eugene and sister, Sandra Gayle. Virginia Ann would complete the family two years later.
The family moved to Manteca, California, in 1950, and settled in the rural Summer Home District where Darlene attended the three-room Summer Home school. The family had chickens, a milk cow and always a beef steer. It was a close-knit community with lots of potlucks, card games, and playing outdoors. She made life-long friends that she continued to be close to. Darlene joined the 4-H Club and was taught cooking and sewing. It was then that Darlene knew that she wanted to be a homemaker.
The family moved into the town of Manteca the summer of her freshman year and she attended Manteca High School with all her friends from elementary school. Her circle of friends grew. She loved all the school activities and joined the school band where she marched as a banner girl. Darlene took home economics all four years and confirmed her desire to be a homemaker. Outside of her parents and family, she would tell you her biggest influence in life was Ms. Sandhu, her home economics teacher.
Darlene married Dean Paulson shortly after high school and, in 1970, their son, Jeffrey Dean Paulson, was born; her life-long desire to be a mother completed. They later divorced and Darlene went to work outside of the home for the first time at Wells Fargo Bank.
It was while working at the bank that Darlene met and married James Wahlgren in 1974. Wells Fargo was growing rapidly and expanding into Southern California and Jim and Darlene moved south with the bank. It was a fun and exciting time with lots of opportunities for training and personal growth. In 1986 the bank transferred Jim to Modesto, California, and Darlene left the bank as vice president and manager and took on a new career selling real estate. After 25 years with Wells Fargo, Jim left the bank and sold real estate with Darlene. As always, they made a good team.
In 1990 Jim bought a Harley Davidson motorcycle and they enjoyed riding and making new friends with HOG (Harley Owners Group). They made three trips to Sturgis, South Dakota, for the annual motorcycle rally, Canada, the Rocky Mountain passes and particularly the Bridgeport, California area.
In 2001 they retired and moved to Albion and built the home of their dreams on family-owned property that they purchased from her dad the year they married, always knowing the valley and the family and community they have here is where they wanted to be.
In 2004 they became excited grandparents to Jeffrey Dean Paulson, Jr. and made lots of trips to California until 2010 when Jeff and Jeffrey moved to Idaho.
Darlene enjoyed cooking and entertaining friends and family. She would tell you her biggest accomplishment in life was being a homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Jim and Darlene were members of M4C Church in Heyburn where they were a part of a loved and loving church family.
The days prior Darlene’s passing were filled with family gatherings to express their love and say their goodbyes. Her home was full of people, lots of phone calls, and texts from loved ones expressing their love to her. She meant a lot to a lot of people.
The day before she passed she would still smile at me. She would just beam when Jeff and Jeffrey would come into the room. She always had that “Darlene” smile. We talked about how she was going to be with Jesus soon and that she would see me out on her favorite back deck drinking my morning coffee.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, John and Olive Lancaster; her sister, Virginia (Jim Morrison); grandparents; and many aunts, uncles ,and cousins.
She is survived by her husband, Jim; son, Jeff; grandson, Jeffrey; brother, Bob (Roberta, deceased) Lancaster; sister, Sandy (Mike) McCoy; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 21, at the Mini-Cassia Community Christian Church (M4C Church), located at 720 J St., in Heyburn, with Pastor Andy Morris officiating. The interment will be held at Sunny Cedar Rest Cemetery in Almo.
Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday, October 20, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and Monday from 10 until 10:45 a.m. preceding the funeral service at the church.
A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/VavwpZ0-n0Q.
