Darlene LaVonne (Arneson)Lunde passed away on February 8, 2026 at Gundersen Tri-County Hospital in Whitehall.

Darlene was born at home in Blair on April 15, 1939 the daughter of Samford and Viola (Hanson) Arneson. She was baptized, confirmed and married at First Lutheran Church in Blair by Reverend Konrad Urberg.

She attended Blair Public Grade School and graduated from Blair High School. In 1958 Darlene married David Lunde.

Prior to her marriage, she was employed at Arcadia Industries in Arcadia. Following the birth of her daughter, she became an Avon representative and continued to do this for over fifty years. She began waitressing at the Green Meadows Supper Club shortly after it opened and continued working there until it closed. She also was a news correspondent for the La Crosse Tribune, Winona Daily News, Blair Press and Banner Journal for many years. She drove school bus for the Taylor School District and then the Blair-Taylor School District, retiring after 35 years.

Darlene was coordinator of the Jackson County Food Pantry for 15 years. She was an active member of the Taylor Lutheran Church where she had taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, was on the Altar Guild and had been the coordinator of Luther Park Vacation Bible School for many years. She held the position of WELCA President for 30 years.

She was awarded the Extra Mile Award from the Northwest SynodAssembly in 2004. In 2005 she received a Women of Leadership Award from the Alpha Kappa Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. In 2006 she received the Jackson County Women in History Award. In 2007 she received the President's Volunteer Service Award.

Darlene is survived by her daughter, Julie (Leif) Olson; son, Steven (John Vivian); two grandchildren, Jamie (Matt) Latzke and Christopher Olson; two great-grandchildren, Kenzie and Brayden Olson; sister-in-law, Mary (Eugene) Berg; brother-in-law, Gerald Hjornevik and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David on August 22, 2017; her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Donald Blaha; father and mother-in-law, Chester and Laura Lunde; sister-in law, Elizabeth Hjornevik and stepmother, Marjorie (Olson) Arneson.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in the Taylor Lutheran Church in Taylor with Kathy Boe – SAM officiating.  Burial will be in the Rest Haven Cemetery in Blair.

Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.