Darlene M. Nelson

Darlene M. Nelson, 91, of Mason City, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025, at the Good Shepherd Health Center. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at Epiphany Parish Holy Family Catholic Church, 722 N Adams. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the North Iowa Humane Society or Epiphany Parish Holy Family Catholic Church.

Darlene was born October 10, 1933 in Hewitt, Minnesota to Chester and Margaret (Aldrich) Beving. She grew up in Verndale, Minnesota and graduated from Verndale Public School in 1951. 

Darlene obtained her teaching certificate and began her career teaching at a country school in Nicollet, Minnesota. She taught there for four years.She loved the challenge of teaching various grade levels all under one roof. 

On September 1, 1956, Darlene was united in marriage to Allan Nelson in New Ulm, Minnesota. They were happily married for 31 years. Al and Darlene raised four children: Nancy, Patty, Tom and Mary. They lived in various Minnesota cities until settling in Mason City in 1966. 

Darlene worked as a substitute teacher in Faribault, Minnesota and Mason City, Iowa. While substituting, she began work on obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Mankato State University. She obtained her degree in 1967. 

Darlene was hired as a Title I Reading Teacher for Mason City Community Schools. She taught for 26 years serving students at Roosevelt Middle School, Madison Elementary School and Newman Elementary School. 

After retiring, Darlene began traveling around the world. She traveled to 15 different countries during this time. Her favorite destinations were Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. She loved meeting new friends and trying new cuisines during these travels. 

Darlene was an avid reader and Minnesota Twins fan. She enjoyed listening to each Twins game on the radio. Darlene was a member of the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) and St. Roseanne’s Circle at Holy Family Epiphany Catholic Church. 

Darlene is survived by her children Nancy(Paul) Conner of Clear Lake, Iowa; Patty Nelson of Coppell, Texas; Tom Nelson of Mason City, Iowa; and Mary Bartoszek of Mason City, Iowa; two grandsons, Jordan and Alec Bartoszek both of Mason City, Iowa. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Allan; her parents Chester Beving and Margaret Deadrick; sister, Karla Reece and brother, Wallace Deadrick.