Darlene Janssen, 84, Bismarck, passed away February 20, 2014, at Sanford Medical Center. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 25, at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 801 E. Denver Ave., Bismarck, with the Rev. Les Wolfgram officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Riverview Cemetery, Washburn.

Darlene Susan (Zietlow) Janssen was born December 26, 1929, on a farm southwest of Center, ND, the daughter of John and Sophie (Skubinna) Zietlow. She was baptized April 13, 1930, at Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's in Center. In 1934 she moved to a farm with her family near Blue Grass, ND. Here she attended rural Moltzen School #2 for eight years. She was confirmed July 12, 1942, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Salem, ND. In 1944 her family moved to New Salem, ND, where she graduated from high school in 1947. She received a Standard Teaching Certificate in 1950 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education in 1972, both from Dickinson State College.

Darlene spent 39½ years in the teaching profession; first in a rural school south of New Salem, then at Outlook, MT, Ashley, ND, Glen Ullin, ND, Garrison, ND, White Shield, ND, with the final 29 years in Washburn, ND, where she taught fourth grade to several generations of Washburn students.

On June 28, 1952, she was united in marriage to Harold H. Janssen at Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem. They made their home in Glen Ullin and Garrison for a short time, before moving to Washburn in 1962. Harold and Darlene had three children, Cynthia, Debra and Paul, and they were very supportive of their activities, including band, 4-H, Scouts, and many church, school and community activities. They were members of St. John's Lutheran Church in Underwood, ND. In 2001, they moved to Bismarck where they became members of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. Harold passed away April 18, 2012, and Darlene moved into The Terrace in Bismarck shortly thereafter, where she was treated like beloved family.

Darlene was a pleasant woman who made friends wherever she went. Darlene and Harold were very active in retirement – spending 15 winters in Mesa, AZ, camping and RVing with friends and family, square dancing, playing cards and games, visiting at the Bismarck Senior Center and attending church services and events. Although she faced health issues resulting from diabetes and became a caregiver for Harold in his later years, she always maintained a positive outlook on life with an interest in the well-being of others.

Darlene's passion in life was teaching and learning. She devoted her life to teaching in and out of schools. In addition to her long career teaching in elementary schools in ND, she taught vacation bible school, was a member of the Washburn Study Club and she took every opportunity to make learning fun for her children and granddaughters. Although an avid reader throughout her life, during her years at The Terrace, Darlene read a book every day, borrowed with gratitude from the Bismarck Public Library. She passed along her love of reading and learning to her family.

She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia (Robert) Norland and Debra (Doug) Beck, both of Bismarck; her son Paul (Kristine) Janssen, Side Lake, MN; three granddaughters, Jennifer Norland, Plymouth, MN, Cristina Norland, Pittsburgh, PA, and Heather Williams, Birnamwood, WI; one great-granddaughter, Tamara Williams; five step-grandchildren, Jamie Stark, Janelle, and Jared Anderson, Joe and Emily Borra; and one sister, Leone (Roland) Kauth, Tucson, AZ.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Florence Oltmann, Helen Zietlow, and Verna Roemmich, and two brothers, Lawrence and Leonard Zietlow.

Memorials are preferred to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 801 E. Denver Ave., Bismarck, ND 58504; Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, P.O. Box 5007, Minot, ND 58702; or a charity of the donor's choice.