Darlene Bratsch

Darlene H. Bratsch, age 80, of Willmar and formerly of Svea, died Thursday afternoon, January 10, at Rice Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 15, at Svea Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, January 14 at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Darlene Helen Bratsch was born on May 17, 1932, on the family farm in Renville County, Minnesota, the daughter of Gust and Helen (Olson) Tolzmann. She grew up on a farm near Svea and attended District #68 grade school and graduated from Willmar High School in 1950. On March 10, 1956, Darlene was married to Irving F. Bratsch and they lived and farmed near Svea. Darlene was employed at the Blomkest grocery store for many years and later at Jennie-O Foods in Willmar. Darlene was a long time member of Svea Lutheran Church. She enjoyed singing, cooking, baking, gardening and flowers. Since the spring of 2011, Darlene has resided at Rice Care Center in Willmar.

She is survived by one sister, Lorraine (and Harold) Hydeen of Kandiyohi; tow sisters-in-law, Janet Bratsch and Delores Lindahl, both of Renville and several nieces and nephews, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Irving in 2002 and two sisters, Luella Roetzer and Donna Fluck.