Darline Marilyn Bourn, 91, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020 at the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck. She was an angel who exemplified Christian values through thoughts, words, and deeds her entire life. She has joined our Savior in eternal life.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sept. 3, 2021 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 801 E Denver Ave, Bismarck. Coffee and desserts will be served following the memorial service. Burial will be held on a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington, Neb. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s website: https://sotv-bis.org/?fbclid=IwAR2-XFb0HbIEtpoui2b-vxtL62YlHkQjzb_Smkxn99kQNrE9Jn2Q8WlMMqE
Darline was born on May 31, 1928, in Lexington, Neb. to parents, Martin Gierhan and Martha Neben Gierhan. She was raised on a farm in Buffalo, Neb. where she was baptized and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Buffalo. 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 in Lexington, Neb. 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, Mo. She worked as an RN for many years in various medical capacities; including obstetrics, surgery, care home 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, Neb. They worked and enjoyed each subsequent location through their long and happy life together: Imperial, Neb., Scranton, N.D., Excelsior, Minn., Lake Wales, Fla. and Bismarck.
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, Bismarck; son, Major General Guy (Sandy) Bourn, Destin, Fla.; son, Greg (Sylvia) Bourn, Gaithersburg, Md.; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Sue (Roger) Bredenkamp, Long Beach, Calif. and brother, Sam (Dixie) Gierhan, Lakewood, Calif.
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.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. 801 Denver Ave, Bismarck ND 58504; Inspiring Minds Center for Dyslexia and Literacy, 1431 Interstate Loop, Ste C, Bismarck ND, 58503 (Local Nonprofit founded by Darline’s granddaughter, Alysia Budd) or Donor’s choice.
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