Darlene Johnson passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 29, 2024, at Good Shepherd Community, North Shore, in Sauk Rapids, MN at the age of 91. 

     Darlene Louise Busse was born on August 20, 1933, to Ralph and Mildred Busse in Rockville, MN. Darlene grew up with her younger sister, Maxine, on their family farm in St. Cloud, MN nearby other Busse family farms and cousins. She attended First Assembly of God Church and after high school graduation, she worked at the Telephone Company. She traveled to Waterloo, IA and met her future husband. Donald and Darlene lived in Iowa for a brief time and moved back to St. Cloud where they raised five children.  In 1975, they moved to the Minneapolis area and Darlene began working at Super Valu as support staff in the executive offices in Eden Prairie. Darlene loved working at SV and made many life-long friends, retiring after 20+ years. She maintained friendships with her SV family until this day. 

Darlene enjoyed spending time with her family, friends, and of course, her Super Valu family. She loved her pastors and friends at Christian Family Church. After mom broke her hip in 1998, requiring several surgeries, she spent her remaining years at Hillcrest Golden Living, Wayzata and then Good Shepherd Nursing Home, Sartell. Darlene enjoyed keeping her room “just right,” spending time on her computer, doing word/puzzles, bingo. Most of all, she enjoyed reading her Bible, listening to Christian music, and watching Christian programming on her computer (she was the only one in the nursing home who used a computer)! Darlene collected lighthouses and owls. She was a talented artist, a hobby she shared enthusiastically whenever coloring with her grandchildren. Grandma Johnson loved and adored all of her grandchildren and loved spending time with them whenever she could.  

     Darlene is survived by three children, Diane (Gordy) Viere of Dallas, Texas, David (Bobbi) Johnson of St. Cloud, MN, and Dixie Sanborn (Peter Grave) of Pequot Lakes, MN; son-in-law, Steven Miller of Burnsville, MN; twelve grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Darlene is also survived by many loving family and friends. 

     She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Mildred Busse; ex-husband, Donald Johnson; daughters; Darla Johnson Miller and Lynn Johnson Chantler; and her sister, Maxine Olson.