Darlene Mae (Simons) Adams, age 91, of Waterville, MN, passed away on August 11, 2026.
Born on March 21, 1936, at her family home in rural Elysian, she was the daughter of Perry and Clarice (Klang) Simons. She attended grade school in Elysian and later graduated from Waterville High School in 1954.
On September 17, 1955, she was united in marriage to Roger Adams at the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Waterville. They first made their home in Elysian before moving to the family farm in 1963, where they raised their family and built a life together. Darlene dedicated 45 years of her working life to Jonson Outdoors, where she worked from 1960 until her retirement in 2005. Darlene and Roger were overjoyed to welcome their daughter, Monica, into their lives. Their joy only grew through the years as they became grandparents and, later, great-grandparents - a role Darlene especially treasured and embraced with all her heart.
Family was Darlene’s greatest treasure, and she always did everything she could for those she loved. With her daughter raising her family on the same farm, Darlene was never far away and was always ready to come to her grandchildren’s rescue. She loved hosting sleepovers with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, where there was always plenty of fun, food, and memories being made. She enjoyed playing 500, Snouse, and Pounce, where a friendly game could quickly turn into a fierce competition - sometimes a little more aggressive than anyone expected! She was a great dinosaur hunter with Colt and enjoyed drawing and playing games with Halle and Josie, though charades was never quite her strong suit. Holidays were made special with everyone’s favorite dish on the table, along with her homemade buns, and her annual tradition of baking cookies and candies brought generations of family and friends together.
Throughout the years, Darlene and Roger enjoyed traveling to places like Europe, Mexico, Nashville, and Las Vegas, and spent several winters in Florida. Darlene proudly visited 49 states, always enjoying the adventure along the way. She was a member of the Elysian American Legion Auxiliary and the Red Hatters Club.
Darlene had a zest for life and plenty of personality. She loved crocheting, making dishcloths and fancy hangers, tending her flower garden, and cheering on the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, along with watching the Olympics. She enjoyed a little gambling and could happily spend time shopping for just the right gift for someone she loved. Her hair was always done just right, and she delighted in collecting everything from Mary Moo Moo cows to lighthouses, cardinals, and beach décor. An avid reader of romance novels, she rarely went far without a book in hand.
Darlene will always be remembered for her loving and giving heart, her kindness and generosity, and the way she made life a little more fun. She was, without a doubt, the worst driver and an even worse passenger. Her sense of humor could be wonderfully spicy, and she was a gifted storyteller, even if the stories occasionally became embellished. She could also be stubborn as the day was long, but that determination was simply part of who she was. But most of all, she will be remembered for being unapologetically Darlene - Classy, Sassy, and just a little bit Gassy. Those who knew and loved her will forever carry her laughter, her stories, and all the wonderfully unforgettable memories she left behind.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Roger; daughter, Monica; grandchildren, Adam (Melissa) Kelly and Hana (Jesse) Spinler; great grandchildren, Colt Kelly and Halle and Josie Spinler; sister, Donna (Dan) Van Houdt; brother, Ronald Simons; sisters-in-law, Susan Simons, Leona Simons, and Ione Knish; brothers-in-law, Bob Culhane and Carl Adams; along with many nieces, nephews, great friends and her cat, Cashew Chicken.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son-in-law, John Kelly; sister, Patsy Culhane; brothers, Richard Simons and Robert Simons; sisters-in-law, Colleen Adams and Irene (Elmer) Lamont; brothers-in-law, Norman Knish and Kenneth Adams.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Waterville, MN; Pastor Kathy King will officiate. Darlene’s family will greet guests at a visitation two hours prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Elysian at a later date.