Darlene Worden

Darlene Barbara Worden passed away on April 7, 2024, at the age of 89 at Sheridan Memorial Hospital.  Darlene, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years Joseph Jerome “Jerry” Worden, who passed away on November 28, 2021. Surviving her are her three children, Darla Worden, Wes Worden, and Lorna (Bill) Dixon; granddaughters Anna Skrabacz and Sydney Worden; sisters Dorothy Green and Faye Oneyear; in-laws Tom and Carol Worden, and Beverly Michelina; and many nieces and nephews.

Darlene was born on August 13, 1934, and her early years were spent on a homestead claim with her parents Joseph and Florence Paulsen, and her four siblings near Decker, Montana. Later her parents traded their land to start their herd of cattle and they worked as ranch managers on several Montana ranches. When it was time for her to start first grade, they lived in an area so remote that Darlene, the oldest child, had to board with another family to attend school, only coming home for Christmas—a painful time for her to be so young and away from her family. She described the joy when her parents moved to a ranch near a school and she could finally come to live at home. She helped tutor her younger sister Dorothy and did such a good job that Dorothy skipped two grades.

Darlene loved the country and told stories about a life that today is only imagined through books, of life on the prairie, years during the Great Depression, of the thrill when the family took the wagon to town and the treats they enjoyed there like cold soda pop, food scarcity, and hard winters surviving on food her mother had canned, ever-present rattlesnakes, and land that could be inhospitable, including red dirt that when you raked it blew away. Still, she loved her childhood and many of her stories were like a Laura Ingalls Wilder novel (one of her favorite authors), tales of playing with her siblings, riding her horse Old Jerry to school, and the highlight of coming into town for Sheridan Rodeo and the wonderful treat of oranges in stockings at Christmas.

After graduating from Lodge Grass High School, she worked at several Sheridan’s notable ranches, Eaton’s, Horton’s, the Wolfes in Deer Creek, the Malcolm Wallops in Big Horn, and for the Homer and Mildren Scott family, in roles as housekeeper, cook, and nanny before meeting “her Jerry” as she called him. Jerry worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad and sometimes he would be sent on jobs outside the Sheridan area. After they were married, she would sometimes meet him in faraway places like Omaha, Nebraska, where they liked to tell the story of watching the Ringling Bros. circus train arrive with the giraffe’s head sticking out above the train cars, and watching as the lions were unloaded down the ramp. Darlene loved to travel, and every summer, she and Jerry loaded up the children to head off to new destinations like Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, and Banff, Canada.

Darlene loved to fish. Not one to sit around while Jerry was away with the railroad, Darlene and her sister Dorothy Green would load up their children and take them on adventures—picnics in the mountains, inner tubing at Tongue River reservoir, and fishing in Tongue River Canyon—instilling a love of the outdoors in her children.

In her later years, Darlene worked as a volunteer at the Catholic Thrift Store, a wonderful experience for her where she met dear friends. Each week she looked forward to her days at the store, planning what to pack in her lunch, baking treats to share with her coworkers and talking about the delicious food they also brought to share. Through the years her coworkers became like family to her.

She was a devoted Denver Nuggets fan, and she was thrilled to see them win the 2023 NBA championship. In her free time, she devoured books about Western life by Janette Oke that reminded her of her own country life, reading nearly every book Oke wrote. Her favorite color was purple, she loved candy bars, especially Idaho Spud bars, and had a wonderful sense of humor, always enjoying a good laugh.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Florence Paulsen and brother Joseph Paulsen. She and her husband Jerry were devoted members of Bethesda Worship Center where her service will be held on Friday, April 12 at 1:30 with Pastor Scott Lee officiating. In place of flowers, donations may be made to Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter, 84 E. Ridge Rd, Sheridan, WY, 82801. Interment will follow in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to www.sheridanfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the care of Sheridan Funeral Home.