Darline Marilyn Bourn
Darline Marilyn Bourn, 91, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, at the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. She was an angel who exemplified Christian values through thoughts, words and deeds for her entire life. She has joined our Savior in eternal life.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Bismarck. Burial will be held on a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington, Nebraska. The livestreamed service may be viewed at www.eastgatefuneral.com.
Darline was born May 31, 1928, in Lexington to parents, Martin and Martha (Neben) Gierhan. She was raised on a farm in Buffalo, Nebraska and was baptized and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church there. She was active in her church her entire life no matter where she lived.
Darline loved school and learning. She attended grades one through eight in a small country Lutheran Christian day school in Buffalo. Her high school education was at Lexington High School during WWII. She worked for a widow doing housework for her room and board as she attended high school.
Darline continued her education at the Lutheran School of Nursing in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked as an R.N. for many years in various medical capacities including obstetrics, surgery, home care and hospice.
She married the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Roger Bourn, on Nov. 6, 1949. They had a blessed and devoted marriage for 61 years before Roger passed away in 2010 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
Darline and Roger began their marriage in Lexington. They worked and enjoyed each subsequent location through their long and happy life together: Imperial, NE, Scranton, ND, Excelsior, MN, Lake Wales, FL and Bismarck, ND.
Her numerous hobbies included gardening, cooking, crossword puzzles and reading. She always enjoyed socializing with anyone at any time, especially with family.
Darline is loved and survived by her daughter, Julie Fadden (Larry) Langemo of Bismarck; son, Major General Guy (Sandy) Bourn of Destin, Florida; son, Greg (Sylvia) Bourn of Gaithersburg, Maryland; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Sue (Roger) Bredenkamp of Long Beach, California; and brother, Sam (Dixie) Gierhan of Lakewood, California.
She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law, Guy Bourn; mother-in-law, Cora Bourn; husband, Roger Bourn; son, Daniel Bourn; son-in-law, Patrick Fadden; and brother, Budd Gierhan.
Memorials may be sent to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 801 Denver Ave., Bismarck ND 58504; Inspiring Minds Center for Dyslexia and Literacy (a local nonprofit founded by Darline’s granddaughter, Alysia Budd), 1431 Interstate Loop, Ste C, Bismarck, ND 58503; or donor’s choice.
To share memories, view the service livestream and sign the online guestbook, visit www.eastgatefuneral.com.