Darlene Peters

Great Falls, Mont.

Darlene Ann Peters, born September 12, 1933, in Minot, ND, passed away on February 17, 2025 in Great Falls, MT. She grew up in the Minot area, married John Korslien in 1951, and had sons Alan and Vernon. After John’s passing in 1965, Darlene was a 3-job single mom, and who, along with sister Elinor, another single mom, took their families on many road trips cross country in Elinor’s Chevy wagon. As a dispensing optician at the Ayash Clinic in Minot for many years, Darlene’s smile and caring personality made her a favorite of the patients.

Many weekends were spent with family at the John Nelson farm where music and games were always a feature. With an abundance of cousins, Darlene and the boys also spent a lot of time playing softball and horseshoes with the Bud Tryhus and Albert Korslien clans. As the boys got older, their band provided Darlene with lots of music in the house as well as lots of company for those coming to hear them play. She was also very proud of Vernon’s band with his three sons, and you could find her in the audience or backstage at just about every performance they gave, especially at Hostfest.

In 1973 she wed Bill Peters with whom she shared 40 years until his death in 2013 and was a loving mother to his daughter Cam. Darlene was an avid crafter and after retiring, made countless baby blankets, quilts, ceramics and other gift items. She was also the extended family’s “Great Communicator,” a human Facebook long before the Internet. If you needed the latest info on family news of marriages, new babies, health issues or job moves, call Darlene.

Darlene is survived by her brother Herman Tryhus, sisters Sandra Speerstra and Linda Krupa, son Alan Korslien (Karen Bishop), daughter Sandy Koss, daughter-in-law Kim Korslien and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by siblings Elinor Allard, Clara Hunter, Clarence Tryhus, Ardis Markle, son Vernon Korslien, step-daughter Cam Peters, nephew Lance Tryhus and nieces Gail Moore and Debby Hunter.

A celebration of her life will be held Sunday evening June 15, 2025, starting at 5:00 pm at the Korslien Family farm near Douglas with a barbeque dinner and live music.

Darlene’s memorial service and lunch will be held on Monday June 16, 2025 @ 11:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church in Minot, ND, with burial following at Fron Cemetery.

Please visit www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com to share condolences with the family.

Published by The Minot Daily News, March 15, 2025.