Darlene Madonna Highness

Darlene Madonna Rose Highness, 82, died unexpectedly on November 23, 2023, in her home in Crookston, MN.

Darlene was born August 28, 1941, in Crookston, MN, the daughter of Charles and Rose Walsh (McShea).  Darlene graduated from the Cathedral School, Crookston, MN, class of 1959.

When Darlene was young, she was always helping family members with babysitting. Her first official job was at the George Peter Store. Her father asked Sadie if “she could have a job”. She stocked shelves and waited on customers. Darlene also worked at the Old St Vincent Nursing Home, doing trays and dishes. She continued with working at the Diet Kitchen at St Francis Hospital, Quality Cleaners, Panatorian Dry Cleaners, Downtown Restaurant, Your Host Restaurant, and RBJ’s Restaurant of Crookston until 2019. Darlene worked at RBJ’s for 35+ years. People were always asking for her dumpling soup!

Darlene was married to Curt Stanley Highness, August 26, 1961, at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Crookston, MN. Darlene and Curt first lived in Crookston, then California, Texas, and returning to Crookston. Darlene was married to Curt, one month shy of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They had a great love for each other.

Darlene was a member of St Anne’s Parish, then the Catherdral of Immaculate Conception. She was a member of Lay Carmelite Order of our Lady of Mount Carmel, Confraternal Sacred Heart, Cursillo, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Lay Carmelite of Divne Mercy and served many years in weekly Adoration at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.

Darlene loved being from a large family. She enjoyed getting together and connecting with her sisters and their families. She appreciated the closeness she had with her sisters. The family Labor Day get together was a favorite time of hers.

Darlene enjoyed gardening, nightly cribbage games with Curt, parties at RBJ’s and Happy Joe’s and being with those she loved.

In addition to her parents, Darlene was preceded in death by sisters Rose Mary Stinar, Ann Johnson, Marcella Joseph and her husband, Curt Stanley Highness.

Survivors include her two sons, Wayne Highness (Denise) of Gore, VA, Bruce Highness of Thief River Falls, MN, and one daughter, Connie Peterson (Matthew) of Duluth, MN. Grandchildren: Cedric Highness (Molly) of Gore, VA, Alisa Akey (Jason) of Loveland, CO, Chase Highness of Strathcona, MN, and Avery Highness of Thief River Falls, MN, and one great-granddaughter, Evalyn Akey, Loveland, CO. Sisters Ellen Langhorst (Keith) of Barnum, MN, Melody Jasicki or Minneapolis, MN, Mary Lou Schmitz (Dan) of Red Lake Falls, MN, Colleen Bartz (Marv) of Barnum, MN, Patricia LaCoursiere (Dave) Crookston, MN and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Darlene Highness will be held at 3:00 pm, Thursday, November 30th, 2023 at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Crookston, MN. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Cemetery in Crookston. Visitation will be at the Catherdral for one hour before the funeral. The rosary will be said before the funeral mass.