Darlene D. Hayes, 73, Minot, formerly of Stanley, died Saturday July 14, 2007 in a Minot Hospital.

Darlene Mergel was born October 18, 1933 in Aylmer, ND, to Defon and Kaia (Larsen) Mergel. She was raised and educated in Aylmer and Anamoose, before graduating from Balfour High School in 1951.

After two years of courting, Darlene and Harland E. Hayes made their way to the parsonage in Wildrose, ND and were united in marriage on June 30, 1951. They made their home in Stanley, ND for 18 years and moved to Minot in 1969.

Darlene was employed as a cashier at the Stanley Red Owl Store, then at the Two Way Inn as a cook. After they moved to Minot, she was a cook at the Standard Café, St. Joe's Hospital, and Behm's Café. Darlene then started at Minot High Central Campus in the Hot Lunch Program where she worked for 19 years. She retired in 1988.

Darlene was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Minot Prairie Quilt Guild, Northern Lights Chapter of Good Sam Club, and Minot Merry Mixers Square Dancers, all Minot. Darlene enjoyed quilting, knitting, and crocheting, which she generously shared with family and friends. She loved a good domino or card game. Her favorites were "Chicken Foot" , "Hand and Foot" and pinochle.

Loving family includes: Husband of 56 years, Harland, Minot, ND; Daughter: Marcia Hayes, Nutley, NJ; Sons: Mark (Billie Jo) Hayes, Harwood, ND and Monte (Dawn Otto) Hayes, Glenwood Springs, CO; Grandchildren: Shannon and Mallory Hayes, Harwood, ND; Sisters: Margaret Budeau, Gwinner, ND, Ramona (Joe) Weninger, Arcola, Saskatchewan, Canada, Carol (Jerry) Olson, Minot, ND, Twila (Conrad) Bachmeier, Roseburg, OR, Alice Alme, Woodbury, MN, June Bargary, Riverside, CA, Vicki Crisman, Balfour, ND; Brothers: Lloyd (Cherie) Mergel, Minot, ND, and Alan Mergel, Albany, OR; Brother-in-law: Ralph (Janet) Hayes, Roy, UT; Sister-in-law: Noreen Freece, Salt Lake City, UT; Special family friend: Janet Sampson; and many special nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Ruby Mergel, and brothers Calvin Mergel and Fred Mergel.

Funeral: Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Minot, ND;
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND;
Visitation: Tuesday, July 17, 2007, from 2:00 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home of Minot.
Memorials: Zion Lutheran Church, Minot, ND. Any other memorial gifts received will be given to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) research.