Darlene Helen Neid, 78, of Denver, CO passed away March 14, 2022. Born Darlene Helen Gathman on March 18, 1943 in Pine River, MN, she graduated from Walker High School in Walker, MN in 1961 as class valedictorian, president, member of Student Council, the school newspaper (Leach Lake Log), band (flute), choir, dance team (Rhythmettes), and cheerleading squad. She was also the church organist at Immanuel Lutheran. After high school she moved to Minneapolis, MN where she began her undergraduate studies at Macalester College and graduated as a Registered Nurse from Abbott Hospital School of Nursing in 1964.

Darlene moved to Lincoln, NE in 1967 where she worked as an operating room nurse at Lincoln General and St. Elizabeth's hospitals. She married James Neid, Sr. in 1968 and raised her young family in Omaha, NE and Iowa City, IA, before returning to Lincoln in 1980 to become a full-time mother, Knolls Tennis member and US Swimming official. Darlene received a B.S. in Education with distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1988 with a special interest in archaeologic studies. She worked for four years as a substitute and part-time teacher in Lincoln Public Schools. In 1993 she began her 15-year tenure as a medical legal assistant at Knudsen, Berkheimer, Richardson & Endacott and worked as a proofreader for court reporters.

Darlene retired to Denver, CO in 2010 to be closer to her children and grandchildren and was an active, loyal neighborhood and community member. She was a 25-year Judge-Referee and teaching clinician for US Rowing, receiving emeritus status, a volunteer archivist in the 10 ^th Mountain Division Collection at the Denver Public Library and an avid participant in the Academy of Lifelong Learning.

Survivors include son James Neid, Jr. (Elizabeth), daughter Stephanie Neid, grandchildren Claire, Meredith and Peter Neid, brother Gerald Gathman (Marci) and nephews Justin and Michael Gathman. She was preceded in death by parents Alfred and Helen Gathman.

Darlene was a joyful grandmother, perceptive and caring mother, ardent puzzler, Cribbage master, thoughtful critic, and meticulous family historian. She was intellectually curious, witty, loving, and had a wonderful smile.

A Memorial Service will be held on April 30, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220.