Darlene Francis Andersen

Darlene Francis Andersen, the daughter of Elmer and Beulah (Ross) Beard, was born September 15, 1932, near Marysville, Missouri and died October 22, 2015, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 83 years, 1 month, and 7 days.
Darlene was raised as a member of the Pentecostal Church near Jefferson City. She attended rural school near Lohman, Missouri then was employed as a waitress and a cook.
On March 10, 1957, she was united in marriage to Harold L. Andersen in Las Vegas, Nevada. They lived in Long Beach, California and then later in La Habra, California. In 1969 they moved to Audubon, Iowa. Throughout her life, Darlene had been involved in the food industry in one form or another. From 1983 to 1987 they owned and operated the Viking Inn at the Valley south of Brayton, Iowa. Then Darlene was a cook at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa until she retired. Darlene enjoyed traveling across the United States and visiting her family who lived in different areas of the country. She enjoyed watching the horse and dog races and trying her luck at the casinos. She loved animals and always owned a dog. But what was most gratifying for Darlene was spending time with her family.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; her father-in-law and mother-in-law Harold and Elsie Andersen; an infant brother and sister; her other brothers and sisters Raymond Beard, Helen Boone, Elmer Beard, Jr., Lorraine McMahon, James Beard; and her sister-in-law Betty and husband Darrell Newell; nieces , nephews, other relatives and friends.
Survivors include her husband Harold “Bud” Andersen of Audubon, Iowa, her children. Michael and wife Lauri Annella of Long Beach, California, Paula Griffin of Des Moines, Iowa, Patricia Annella of Lucerne Valley, California, Kandi Tague of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Kim and husband Mitch Johnson of Brayton, Iowa, and Mark and wife Christine Andersen of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; her grandchildren Season, Adam, and Rebecca Annella all of Long Beach, California, Shane, Satin, and Bobbi Jo Griffin all of Des Moines, Iowa, Robert Lupien of David City, Nebraska, Stacey Jones of Las Vegas Nevada, Kyle and wife Angie Tague of Jacksboro, Tennessee, Kristine Tague of Richmond, Virginia, Nickolas Johnson of Brayton, Iowa, Matthew Andersen of Kansas City, Kansas, Brittany Andersen of Great Falls, Montana, Justin, Trace, and Meghan Andersen all of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; 17 great grandchildren; her sister Delores and husband Jim Toth of Fort Myers, Florida; her brother-in-law Darrell “Arch” and wife Violet Andersen of Audubon, Iowa; her special nieces Carolyn Saale of Kansas City, Missouri, Judy and husband Warren Lotsberg of Huron South Dakota; other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Roger Claxton on Monday, October 26, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be Mark Remsberg, Phil Elmquist, Matthew Andersen, Nick Johnson, Delbert Elmquist, and Reggie Andersen. The family will meet with friends from 2:00 P.M. until 4:00 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.