Darlene May Hacker, 77, of Emmons, died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, at the Albert Lea Medical Center in Albert Lea.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Lake Mills Synod Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, Iowa, with the Rev. Karl Hermanson officiating. Burial will take place at Lime Creek Synod Lutheran Cemetery, rural Lake Mills, Iowa. Visitation will be today from 4 until 7 p.m. at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street in Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Darlene May (Furness) Hacker was born Dec. 4, 1930, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the daughter of Alvin and Orphia (Bork) Furness. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior&8217;s Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1948.

On Dec. 5, 1948, Darlene was united in marriage with Andrew Hacker at Our Savior&8217;s Lutheran Church. The couple made their home on the family farm in rural Emmons, where Andy farmed and Darlene tended to their home and family. She was a very active member of Lime Creek Synod Lutheran Church where she was involved with Ladies&8217; Aid and taught Sunday school for many years. Darlene also enjoyed gardening, sewing, reading, doing puzzles, and she collected pottery. In the late 1960&8217;s, Darlene and Andy moved their family (house and all!) from the farm into Emmons. Andy passed away in 1996.

Darlene was married to Paul Halvorsen on Sept. 1, 2000, at Lime Creek Synod Lutheran Church. The couple loved to spend their time traveling across the United States with Paul&8217;s airborne reunion trips, and they enjoyed dancing. Their blended family also kept them busy, and they were blessed to have many nearby.

Survivors include her husband, Paul Halvorsen of Emmons; five children, Marty (DeLores) Hacker of Twin Lakes, Jan (Mark) Prenger of Lake City, Nadine Hacker of Lake Mills, Iowa, David Hacker of Lake Mills, Iowa, and Tommy (Sheila) Hacker of Alden, Iowa; eight grandchildren, MeLissa Hacker, Allen Hacker, Tony (Jessica) Hacker, Mandy (Derek) Cink, Monica Prenger, Ingrid Prenger, Tavis Hacker, and Whitley Hacker; four great-grandchildren, Dillon Hacker, Adam Hermanson, Preston Cink, and Patyn Hacker; two sisters, Marcella Severson of Albert Lea, and Ramona Furness of Northfield; and a brother, Allen Furness of Northfield. Darlene is also survived by her husband Paul&8217;s family: Sheryl, Dawn, Suzanne, Lynn, Mary, Linda, Brenda, Paula, and Josh; along with many other step-relatives, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Orphia; and her husband, Andrew in 1996.

You can contact the family with on-line condolences at: www.mittelstadtfuneralhome.com