Darleen Miller

Darleen Catherine Millerof Hebron, Neb., the daughter of John and Caroline (Nass) Benker, was born Sept. 20, 1923 in Guide Rock, Neb. She died Saturday, at Blue Valley Lutheran Home in Hebron.

She was the youngest of nine children. Darleen was baptized Oct. 7, 1923, at Zion Lutheran Church in Guide Rock, and confirmed May 23, 1937, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Deshler.

At the age of five, the family moved to Deshler. Darleen attended St. Peter Lutheran School and graduated from Deshler High School with the Class of 1941. She was the only one of the nine children to graduate.

After graduation, she went to live with her sister, Elizabeth, in McPherson, Kan. Her first job was a waitress in a cafe.

After about two years in McPherson, she returned to Deshler. At the time her brother, Gus, had come home for a visit from New Jersey asked her go back with him for a vacation. She did and ended up staying there.

She worked several different jobs. When working for her husband-to-be parents, at Berlin Bakery, she met Frank. They were married Dec. 14, 1947.

In 1949, their only child, Karen, was born. In 1950, Frank purchased lake property in Laurel Springs, N.J. It was a summer resort known as Hidden Lake Club. Frank and Darlene ran the business for 24 years.

After selling their business, the family moved back to Berlin where they lived from 1973 to 1986. The family decided to move to Hebron.

Darleen was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and was involved in church work. She also helped at Things and Stuff.

Darleen enjoyed bowling, crafts, playing cards, cooking and baking.

After falling and breaking a hip in August of 2014, she moved into the Blue Valley Lutheran Home.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank; brothers, Reinhold, Gustav, Harold and Alfred Benker; sisters, Louise Gragert, Christine Hiebert, Leona Secrest and Elizabeth Buehle.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen Miller, of Hebron.

Her funeral was at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Kroll Funeral Home Chapel in Hebron. Officiant was Pastor Keith Brozek.