Darlene Mae (Seado) Adkins, 96, of Shelly, MN, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on July 3, 2025 at the Lilac Memory Care Home in Moorhead, MN. She had a fall that resulted in a broken hip. We are thankful she was kept very comfortable and only lingered for a couple days.

Darlene was born in Bemidji, MN on January 13, 1929, to Kenneth and Mabel (Djonne) Seado, oldest of 6 kids. She attended school in Bagley and Bemidji. In June of 1947, Darlene married Robert (Bud) Adkins in Bemidji. They lived in a log cabin at the Pioneer Camp Resort (north of Bemidji) while the Adkins family owned it. Then their travels began…first move was to Donaldson, Ark. where the family traded resort life for operating a small cafe. Then Bud worked on the pipeline for 5 years, across the US, so they had to move often from place to place. Darlene enjoyed going to new places and making them home, even if it was with apple and peach crates for furniture. After 5 years of "gypsy" living, they settled in Malvern, AR.  Both children, Pam and Mike (Mick) were born there. Jobs took them from Ark. to Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Darlene worked for Target for 20 years. For the final 5 years of Bud's employment, they lived in Chula Vista, CA. They both loved it there and made many friends. They worked together on making craft items that Dar loved selling at craft shows. After Bud died in 2004, Dar moved to Shelly, MN. She loved it in Shelly. She got involved in many things and enjoyed her friends and activities...till Covid shut everything down.

She lived a year and a half in an apartment in Halstad, and a 5 week stay in that nursing home before moving back to her home in Shelly. She lived with Pam, who had lots of help from friends who cared for Dar, for 2 years before moving to Lilac Homes. It took 2 weeks to convince her she wasn't on a bad vacation or in prison, but she settled in pretty well. Dar's good friend, Marie Ellen Swenson, played a big part in that with her frequent visits that she so enjoyed.

Darlene loved people, family time, flower gardening, their cross-country vacations in the motorhome, going to the cabin in Bemidji, Yahtzee, playing solitaire, and chocolate covered raisins. Dar was a very sweet lady and the best Mom...she will be greatly missed by many.

Darlene is survived by daughter, Pam (Adkins) Johnson, Shelly, MN; 3 grandchildren, Mickey Adkins, Fargo, ND, Molly Adkins, Minneapolis, MN, and Kimberly Johnson, Mound, MN. She is also survived by 4 great grands, Heather (Jake) Bolstad, Caledonia, ND, Kenny (Justine) Johnson, Turtle Lake, WI, Zeph Johnson, Mound, MN and Brooke Johnson of Lakota, ND; 4 great-great grands, Eloise, Adeline, Emilia and Brayden Bolstad, Caledonia, ND, sisters, Patty (Roy) Nord, Campbellsport, WI and Donna (Bernie) Fossand, Onamia, MN; daughter-in -law, Amy (Peters) Adkins; and many nieces and nephews.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth & Mabel; husband of 57 years, Bud; son, Mick; brother, Kent Seado; sister, Joan Adkins; sister, Madeline Seado; sister-in-law, Chere Seado; brother-in-law, Jack Adkins; sister-in-law, Janet Couch; son-in-law, Bruce Johnson; and grandson, Michael Johnson.

Darlene's family will be holding a memorial service at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the Shelly Community Center in Shelly, MN.

Plase view our guestbook and share condolences online for the family.