Darlene J. Mac Runnels, age 100, passed away on June 1st after an accident and surgery for a fractured right leg.
She was born in Chandler, Minnesota (on her grandparents’ farm) on January 14, 1925. She was predeceased by her father and mother, Hobart and Ella Lemon; husband, La Verne (Mac) Mac Runnels; and son-in-law, Joshua T. Day III (Skip).
Darlene is survived by her daughter, Arlene Day, and her son, Alan Mac Runnels. She is also survived by grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Darlene spent her childhood moving around the Midwest with her parents during the Great Depression, finally settling in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Darlene met her future husband in high school and was married on February 2, 1943. Her husband enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was gone for almost two years during WWII. After the war ended, Darlene, her husband, and her daughter moved to Peterson, Iowa, where he worked for the Iowa Light and Power. They lived there until he was recalled back into the military during the Korean War. Darlene, their daughter, and new baby son, Alan, moved back to Spirit Lake until Darlene and the children could join him at Fairchild AFB, Washington.
Darlene wasn’t one to just sit around and not be busy; she worked in and managed a department store retail day care for years. After Darlene retired, she started to volunteer as the Librarian at church and taught adult Sunday School, women’s Bible study, and ” Pink Ladies” at a local hospital.
Darlene has been to all 50 states and 10 foreign countries. Darlene moved again to live with her daughter and husband in Virginia in 2016. She stayed busy with family and attending Women’s bible study.
Darlene had a great sense of humor and loved to play board games (and won most of the time). Her favorite was chocolate and diet coke.
There will be a graveside service at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake, Iowa, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 1:00 pm. Following the graveside, you are welcome to join the family for a time of fellowship at the El Mariachi Bar & Grill in Spirit Lake.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to your charity of choice.
