Darlene Ida (Klasen) Bitzer

Darlene Tisdell Bitzer, 81, of Bemidji, MN died Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at her home with family by her side after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 9, 2017 at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Bemidji, MN with Fr. Don Braukmann officiating. Family will greet friends for one hour before the service at the Church. Inurnment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Bemidji, Minn. Arrangements are entrusted with the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, Minn.

Honorary Bearers will be all of her Grand Kids and Great-Grand Babies.

Darlene I. Klasen was born April 21, 1936 in New Munich, Minnesota to Herman and Clara (Huewe) Klasen.  She grew up in Bemidji where she graduated from St. Philips Catholic School in 1951 and graduated from Bemidji High School in 1955.   She married Derald Tisdell December 8, 1956 in International Falls, Minnesota.  They lived in Big Falls, Minn. in 1956, Montana in 1958 and moved to Bemidji in 1963. She worked as an Account Clerk Sr. for Bemidji State University for 27 ½ years, retiring on May 11, 2001.  She worked at Sears, Northern School and St. Philips Catholic School.  She was a member of St. Philips Catholic Church.  Did volunteer book work for St. Philips Rectory in the later 1960’s.  She was a volunteer for hot lunch at St. Philips School, volunteer at St. Philips Clothing depot, and a volunteer at the school office at St Philips.  She was a Den Mother for cub scouts and Sergeant of arms for the American Legion Auxiliary. August 22, 1983 she married Roland C. Bitzer in Bemidji.

Survived by Husband, Rollie Bitzer, Bemidji, MN; Daughter, Cindy Tisdell, Bemidji, MN, Sons, Bradley (Carol)Tisdell, Missoula, MT; Randy (Wendy) Tisdell, Bemidji, MN, and David (Linda Helgesen) Tisdell, Bemidji, MN, Step-daughters, Gretchen (Dr. Charles) Heinberg, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kristina Bitzer, El Mirage, AZ and Trudi (Howard Leathers) Bitzer, Duluth, MN; Step son, Hugo (Christie Kaehn)  Bitzer, Eden Prairie, MN; 9 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 9 step-grandchildren; brother, LeRoy Klasen of Bemidji, MN; sister, Lucille Wright of Wyoming, MN.; half sister, Sandra Kay, Coeur d’Alene, ID;  Sister-in-law & Brother-in-law, Elaine (Dennis) McClellan; Sister-in-law, Pat Klasen; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herb & Clara Klasen; first husband, Derald Tisdell in 1964; step-daughter, Heidi McLure in 1996; brothers, Roy Klasen & Herb Klasen; grandson, Michael Tisdell.

The family prefers memorials to St. Philips Catholic School or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Online guestbook at www.OlsonSchwartzFuneralHome.com

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