Darlene Jeannette Thede

 Darlene Jeannette (Peterson) Thede passed away December 8, 2024 in Provo, Utah.  She was born on December 9, 1937 in Little Fork, Minnesota to Russell Howard Peterson and Norma Mae (Clark) Peterson. She was the first of two children. She had one brother, Robert (Bob) Peterson. 

 Although she enjoyed her toddler days in Minnesota, Darlene grew up in Pasadena, California. Her family lived on Arboleda Street in Pasadena. During elementary school, she enjoyed acting, and was in lots of plays, even receiving a “merit award” for acting. In Junior High she took up sewing because her dad told her that if she sewed her clothes, he would purchase the fabric. She also enjoyed knitting, sports, and swimming.

 During High School, Darlene loved going to church with her great Aunt Annie Olson at the Bethel Baptist Church in Pasadena. She had a wonderful group of friends at the church. They enjoyed many nights a week at the church for different activities, including singing in the choir. Darlene loved dressing up for church in matching everything. Dress, purse, hat, shoes, coat, jewelry, gloves, etc.

 At the conclusion of her Junior year of High School, Russell and Norma moved to Triangle Lake (Blachly), Oregon. Darlene stayed in Pasadena with Aunt Annie to finish High School. She graduated early from Pasadena High School, then moved up to Oregon.

 Darlene married William J Lauritzen (Bill) on 29 November 1957, and was baptized by him into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in May of the following year. The Lauritzens had three children together: Laurie Ann Lauritzen, Richard William Lauritzen, and Peter James Lauritzen, but were later divorced.

 Darlene married Paul Arthur Thede on 16 June 1966. They began their life together as a blended family with six children. His three (Terry, Ken, and Tom) and her three (Laurie, Richard, and Pete). They were blessed with one child together. Tammy Sue Thede was born on 19 March 1968. Paul and Darlene spent many years square dancing together.

 Darlene enjoyed many hobbies during her life. She was known for loving to play games with family members. She also loved to swim and water ski. She taught swimming lessons at Triangle Lake. She spent many years as a “swim team mom”, encouraging her children’s swimming success. She always claimed, “I should have been a fish!” She also enjoyed knitting. She made a knit sweater for almost all of her children depicting their interests, and she also made a matching dress and sweater for her mother. She was famous for making comfy knit slippers for every member of the family.

 Darlene worked as a Banker for 29 years – first in the Computer Center at 29th & Willamette, and then as a Bank Teller - always for U.S. Bank. After retiring from U.S. Bank, Paul and Darlene built a home in “The Villages” in Lady Lake, Florida. They enjoyed living in this retirement community in the same neighborhood with Norma, and Bob and Rosie (her mother, brother, and sister-in-law). They loved participating in all the retiree games: Water Volleyball, Water Walking, Bocci Ball, Shuffleboard, Bunco, Pickleball, and of course – nightly games together. Darlene was a group discussion leader for TOPS for several years and served in her church in many different capacities involving music. She was also a Temple Ordinance Worker in the Orlando, Florida Temple.

 After her husband Paul died, and then Bob and Norma also died, Darlene packed up, sold her house, and moved back to Eugene, Oregon in 2014 where she could be close to family. She lived in Woodland Park for 10 years. These were some of the happiest years of her life! She was known as “Grandma Thede” to her many young friends. She loved singing and listening to uplifting music. Members of the church gathered in her home weekly to sing together while she joyfully led them as their director. She also loved doing puzzles and riding her 3-wheel tricycle.

 She always said, “I have the best family in the world! There’s not a bad one in the bunch!” She truly loved her family! She spent her life loving and supporting her family and trying to love God and others.

 Darlene Thede passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at the age of 86, just one day before her birthday. She was preceded in death by her parents (Russell and Norma Peterson), her brother (Bob Peterson), her husband (Paul Thede), her former husband (Bill Lauritzen), one son (Pete Lauritzen), and one step-son (Ken Thede). She is survived by her children: Laurie Vawdrey (Glen), Richard Lauritzen (Kathi), Tammy Peaslee (Jason), and step children: Terry Thede, Tom Thede (Gloria), Kathy Nessen, and daughter-in-law (Lorraine Thede), as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be honored at a Memorial Service in Eugene, Oregon at a later date, to be determined.