Darlene “Pee Wee” Lange, 73, of Sioux Falls, passed away at her home on June 25, 2018.
Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday June 30, at Miller Southside Funeral Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave., with the family greeting friends following the service and before private family burial.
Darlene “Pee Wee” Lange was born to Jacob and Connie (Anderson) Christianson on Jan. 31, 1945, on a farm near Ramona. She was baptized at Belleview Lutheran Church near Howard. The family moved to Sioux Falls when she was a teenager. Darlene attended Axtell Junior High and Washington High School.
She began work at a young age and worked as a waitress at the Joe Foss Airport Café, Ray’s Drive-In, Bob’s Drive-In, and West Truck Haven. Darlene was named Waitress of the year for the city of Sioux Falls in 1969. She also worked for Dinsmore’s and Balance Systems Inc. for thirty years. After retirement she worked at several casinos and enjoyed the extra money. Darlene was a member of the Moose Lodge for over 40 years.
Darlene loved to fish, hunt, and watch auto stock car racing. She was a kind-hearted person who liked to help people. She was previously married with no children. She loved her dog, Baby. Darlene looked forward to organizing the annual family reunion at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls. She enjoyed wearing her trademark red hat everywhere.
Grateful for having shared her life are her sister, Ardys Murray; many nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and nephews.
Her parents; brothers Junior and Kenneth Christianson preceded her in death.
