Darlene Schjoneman

Darlene “Dar” Dorthalene Schjoneman went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Springfield, Ore.

She was born December 22, 1930, on the family farm in Atwood to Halver and Meta Miller Becken as the fifth of eight children. She attended the one-room schoolhouse that was next door to the farm. Darlene’s first “job” was starting the fire in the wood stove to warm the schoolroom each morning. As a high school student she was in chorus and glee club and worked at the local dress shop in town. She graduated from Colby High School in 1948.

After marrying Gordon John Schjoneman in 1950 in Colby at the Zion Lutheran Church, they drove to Oregon on their honeymoon and settled in Coos Bay–a place they both fell in love with and called home for 65 years.

Darlene was an amazing mom, who loved and served her family by providing excellent baked items and using her seamstress skills. She had such an excellent reputation for being reliable and trustworthy that she never had to apply for a job, but was asked if she would come to work for several different employers, including Anita’s Dress Shop and K-Mart. Darlene was an avid reader and also loved dancing to country music. She was a long time football fan of the Green Bay Packers and University of Oregon Ducks. In 2015, she moved to Springfield to be closer to family, in assisted living. Darlene had a tenacity for life as shown by living well beyond expectations after a serious fall in 2019.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Percy Becken, Gloria Bedrosian, LaMyra Wienfurtner, Angela “Joyce” Kauffman and Halver “Sonny” Becken. Also preceding her in death was her husband, Gordon (1996), infant great-grandson, Samuel Babbitt, and “favorite son-in-law” Len Nothwang.

Darlene is survived by her daughter, Gayle Nothwang Holdeman of Pleasant Hill, Ore., Jason Schjoneman of Coos Bay and stepson Gary Schjoneman of Wisconsin, as well as four grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, along with siblings: Jacinta “Sandy” Fredrickson, June Decker and many nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Park in Coos Bay, next to her beloved husband. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Paid obituary 147639