Darlene Marie Sveum's Obituary
Darlene Marie Palensky Sveum was born May 7, 1923, to Frank and Stella Palensky on the family farm near Crete, N.D. She attended a country school, then a school in Crete and later Oakes (N.D.) High School, where she graduated in 1941.She worked on the family farm, then in the winter of 1941 worked as a domestic in St. Paul, Minn. She returned to the family farm in the spring of 1942. She worked on the farm and at several restaurants in Oakes. She was married to James Obenchain on Jan. 27, 1945, in Milnor, N.D. The couple farmed near Stirum, N.D. She worked at the tree nursery in Oakes and for the Streich Potato Company of Englevale, N.D. The couple later lived near Glover, N.D., where she worked in the home. Darlene and James Obenchain had eight children. She later moved to Verona, N.D., where she was a member of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church and a member of the parish’s Ladies Circle. She was also a member of the Parent-Teacher Association. On Oct. 5, 1972, she married Erv Sveum in LaMoure, N.D. In the summer of 1974, the couple moved to Cooperstown, N.D. He died on Sept. 13, 1983. She moved to Eustis, Fla., in November 2006. She worked at Green Thumb in Cooperstown for eight years, as a clerk at the thrift store and as a clerk for the Cooperstown C.C.A.A. She also worked as a domestic. She was a member of St. George’s Catholic Church in Cooperstown and of St. Ann’s Circle at the church. She was a member of the board of directors of Southside Apartments, a member of the Masonic Squares square dance club and the garden club, all in Cooperstown. She enjoyed square dancing, gardening, cooking and visiting with friends and family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Stella Palensky; husband, James Obenchain; by a daughter, Sheila (Vince) Habel; and a son, Allen (Susie) Obenchain. She is survived by: son, Bill Obenchain, St. Cloud, FL; daughter, Cheryl (Henry) Richie, Dona Vista, FL; daughter, Sandra Obenchain, Lancaster, PA; daughter, Susane (Steve) Erickson, Rochester, MN; son, Barry Obenchain, North Ft. Myers, FL; son, Bryan (Cindy) Obenchain, Minot, ND. She is also survived by grandchildren: Shelly Habel, (Philip Sundell), Alexandria, VA; Erin & Bailey Obenchain, Minot, ND; Jim (Lori) Obenchain, Pawtucket, RI; Benny Obenchain, PA; Clint Obenchain, PA, and great grandchildren Ryan & Emma Obenchain, Pawtucket, RI. She is also survived by her sisters: Theresa Skovgaard, Peoria, AZ; Marilyn Feltis, Edgeley, ND; and Madalyn Palensky, Ketchikan, AK, as well as nieces & nephews. Memorial services were held in the Waterman Village Chapel on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 4 PM with Dr. Alan Jones, Chaplain officiating. Mrs. Sveum will be transferred to Oakes, North Dakota for final services and interment. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the Waterman Communities Foundation, 445 Waterman Avenue, Mount Dora, FL 32757 or St. George's Catholic Church 809 8th St NW. Cooperstown, ND 58425. You may leave a condolence for the family by signing the guest book below.
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