Darlene Fjeldstad, 83, Valley City, ND passed away July 26, 2024, at SMP Health- St. Raphael.  A memorial service for Darlene will be held Friday, August 2, at 1:30 pm in Grace Free Lutheran Church, Valley City with Pastor Kevin Borg officiating.  The Lerud Mathias Funeral Home is assisting her family with arrangements.  An online guestbook is available on her tribute page at www.lerudmathias.com

Darlene Ann Fjeldstad was born November 19, 1940, to Olaf and Helen (Drager) Fjeldstad in Nome, ND.  She attended elementary grades at Nome and Enderlin and high school at Enderlin until the family moved to Valley City where she graduated from Valley City High School in 1959. 

After graduation she began employment as a store clerk at Ben Franklin, working there until the store closed.  Forever remembered as the “Ben Franklin Lady” she could be seen walking throughout town be it raining, snowing or sunshine (just like the mailman’s motto). 

She then worked at Central Avenue Pharmacy until her retirement. She lived with and cared for her father until his death in 1981. Darlene stayed in that home until moving into the Rudolph.  After taking a fall, she moved into the Sheyenne Care Center which was renamed St. Raphael. 

Darlene was a member of Grace Free Lutheran Church, where she was active in the Women’s Mission Federation and Faith Evening Circle.   She was a member of the Valley City Eagles Auxiliary. An avid reader, she enjoyed utilizing the Barnes County Library.  

Darlene was kind and thoughtful, remembering her friends with birthday, anniversary and holiday cards over the years.  She did some traveling with friends, attended local plays and concerts and loved playing bingo. Always a cat lover, she kept a stuffed cat on her chair to remember her pets. 

The Komrosky family were dear friends who welcomed her to their home for family gatherings and holidays as she was considered to be one of their family.   The Skramstad family thought of her as another sister as Sandy and she were friends since high school and kept close to the family ever since. 

Having no known living relatives, she cherished her friends, past and present.