Darlene Ernestine (Scheffknecht) Munkholm, beloved Mother and Grandmother, passed away suddenly on August 22, 2025 at Eagle Ridge Senior Living in Osceola, WI, one day before her 90th birthday. She is deeply missed by her family and many friends.

She was born on August 23, 1935 to John and Agnes (Zuehl) Scheffknecht in South St. Paul, MN, the second of three children. She had many fond memories from growing up with her brother and sister and the extended family in the neighborhood.

Darlene graduated from South St. Paul High School in 1953. She worked at Swift & Company doing bookkeeping.

Music and dancing were a lifelong passion and she was often singing and spent many an evening at the dance halls with her friends.

Over the years, Darlene also spent many happy times at the family’s cabin near Big Lake and eventually met Everett Munkholm in Dresser. They were married in September of 1965 and settled in on the Munkholm family farm where they worked together raising beef and dairy cattle. In 1967 they welcomed their daughter, Michele.

Darlene was an avid homemaker and enjoyed cooking and baking. She grew a large garden and canned and froze all manner of fruits and vegetables grown on the farm.

After Michele was in school, Darlene worked at the Peppermill Restaurant as a waitress, where she enjoyed meeting so many people over the years.

After Everett’s death in 1987, Darlene sold the cattle and farm machinery and took a job at Clayton’s Hardware Hank in St. Croix Falls until she retired.

In 1992 Darlene married Arnold Anderson and they were able to travel together on many enjoyable trips. They became doting grandparents to twin grandsons in 2003. When Arnold passed away in 2009, Michele’s family became her travel companions and were able to enjoy many vacations together over the years including the Black Hills, Yellowstone and the Redwoods in California.

Always very active in her community and church, Darlene participated in many different groups including a neighborhood circle group, the Friendly Twirlers Square Dance Club, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW in Dresser. At Bethesda she sang in the church choir, participated in quilting and was always ready with a lemon meringue pie or a coffee cake for any church occasion in need.

She filled many roles over the years, including President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Dresser VFW where she helped with many a pancake breakfast or spaghetti supper. She served as a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army, she taught Bible School, was a Girl Scout leader and always enjoyed bringing treats and visiting homebound church members.

Darlene is survived by her daughter, Michele (David) Silvester; grandsons, Andrew and Nicholas Silvester; sister, Judie (Elmer) Heuer; sisters-in-law, Ila Munkholm and Jayne Munkholm; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Agnes Scheffknecht; husbands Everett Munkholm and Arnold Anderson; brother Franklin (Mary Ann) Scheffknecht; sister-in-law Helen (Vincent) Schadegg; brothers-in-law Harold (June), Paul & Mervin Munkholm.

Visitation
Saturday, August 30, 2025
10:00AM - 11:00AM
Bethesda Lutheran Church
1947 110th Ave
Dresser, WI 54009

Funeral Service
Saturday, August 30, 2025
11:00AM
Bethesda Lutheran Church
1947 110th Ave
Dresser, WI 54009

Final Resting Place
El Salem Cemetery
1802 90th Ave
Dresser, WI 54009

Last Update: Aug 27, 2025 10:49 am CDT