Darlene Tiedeken

Darlene and Richard Tiedeken

Darlene Tiedeken passed away at her home in Starke on June 19, 2026. She will be joined in heaven by her husband, Richard, who passed on December 31, 2019. Both had lived in Starke since 1993.

Darlene was born July 25, 1934, in Tracy Minnesota, and Richard was born November 21, 1930, in Lincoln Township in southern Minnesota.

They met while attending Madelia Public School.

After high school, Richard joined the Army and was wounded by mortar shrapnel during the Korean War. He achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class.

After returning from military service, Richard and Darlene were married on July 24, 1954, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madelia Minnesota. They spent a short period of time in Los Angeles, but soon returned to southern Minnesota to begin a life of farming, raising crops and animals. Darlene also worked assisting the nurse at Kraft Foods in New Ulm MN.

In 1959 they adopted their son Nick.

They teamed with Darlene’s parents (Leonard and Harriet Fitzgerald) and brother (Patrick Fitzgerald) in buying and operating a resort in Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin in 1972.

By 1979 they returned to Minnesota where Richard worked maintenance at a large greenhouse in Minneapolis, while Darlene worked as an office manager at a teen drug rehabilitation center, and then a wire cloth manufacturing company in St. Paul.

They “retired” to Starke FL in 1993 where her brother Pat was working at the Reception and Medical Center at Lake Butler.

During retirement, Richard and Darlene began selling Queens Apples at local festivals and fairs, including the Hoggetown Medieval Faire and Clay County Fair. Eventually they expanded their business to events from Florida to the International Border in Minnesota.

Throughout their varied travels and adventures they met countless interesting people, making many lifelong friends along the way.

A memorial celebrating their lives will be held Friday July 24, 2026, at 6:15 at the Victory Chapel in Starke.

Arrangements are with Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home of Starke 904-964-6200 www.jonesgallagherfh.com.