Some songs from 1957

In 2007, Darlene found out about the Manning Schools history book project I was working on and sent me several country school pictures to scan.
I found a few high school pictures of her in my database, but am especially glad she sent me Iowa No. 8 pictures...


Darlene Ann Anderson

Darlene Ann Anderson, 84, of Fort Dodge passed away on Friday, September 1, 2023, at Unity Point Health Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, September 18, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, interment will follow at North Lawn Cemetery, Fort Dodge, Iowa. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at the church.
Gunderson Funeral Home of Fort Dodge, Iowa, in charge of services.

Darlene was born in Manning, Iowa, on January 26, 1939, to Carl Arthur and Amanda (Jentzen) Kruse. She was baptized by Pastor John Ansorge May 21, 1939, and confirmed April 11, 1954, at Zion Lutheran Church. She attended Iowa No. 8 Country School and graduated from Manning High School in 1957 and went on to the Minnesota School of Laboratory & X-Ray Technology, graduating in 1958.

Darlene met her husband Keith at St. Paul Lutheran Church, and they were married on April 9, 1961, at the church. She worked for the Lutheran Hospital Laboratory, Dr. F.E. Giles, Urology and Dr. Stephen L. Piercy Urology Associates all in Fort Dodge and then McFarland Clinic in Webster City, Iowa.

Darlene was a longtime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s Women’s Group, Mission House Sewing, long time Camp Fire Leader, Hospital Volunteer, den-mother with Cub Scouts, Sunday School Teacher, and volunteered with the Fort Dodge Senior High Band. She loved working with and helping young people, fabric painting, sewing, sending cards and notes to people, and listening to music of all types.

Darlene is survived by her children Nancy (Tom) Bowers, Brian Anderson, Cindy (Jonathan) Williams, Ellen (Kevin) Petty, and Bruce (Judy) Anderson; sisters-in-law Shirley Kruse, Sharon Kruse, and Geraldine Anderson along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Keith; parents Carl and Amanda Kruse; father and mother-in-law Harry and Louise Anderson; brothers Art and Willis Kruse.

Memorials may be left to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Building Fund and St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Fort Dodge.


Top: Evelyn Grundmeier - teacher, Jerry Hargens, Annette Ehlers, Arden Hargens, Eleanor Ehlers, Allen Ehlers, Joyce Handlos
Third: Larry Ehlers, Kay Hass, Kathryn Hass, Lowell Stammer
Second: Lila Hargens, Keith Hass, Darlene A. Kruse, Lyle Ahrenholtz, Jeanette Fabian, Kenneth Hass, Elaine Ehlers
Bottom: Gene Ehlers, Elaine Ahrenholtz, Hazel Jurgensen, Kenneth Ahrenholtz, Donna Rae Wegner, Alice Jurgensen, Harold Jurgensen

Christmas 1948

Back: Donald Ewoldt, Vera Ahrenholtz, Marlene Hargens, Marion Hargens, Willis Kruse, Joann Schrum
Fourth: Darlene Kruse, Elaine Ahrenholtz, Alan Hargens, Alice Jurgensen, Arden Hargens
Third: Elaine Ehlers, ??, ??, Hazel Jurgensen, Keith Hass
Second: ??, Alice Jurgensen?, Lila Hargens, ??
Front: Eleanor Ehlers, Kenneth Hass, Lowell Stammer, Annette Ehlers


Back: 1945 Lucille (Lamp) Boell - teacher
Third: Ardella Joens, Darlyne Thomssen, Stanley Ewoldt, Arthur Kruse, Arlys Wegner, Vera Ahrenholtz
Second: Juanita Witmus, Larry Thomssen, Donald Gene Ewoldt, Willis Kruse, Eugene Haberl, Darlene Kruse, Elsie Mae Humm
Front: Verna Witmus, Alice Jurgenson, Lyle Ahrenholtz, Janelle Miller, Billie Wegner, Elaine Ahrenholtz

June 3, 1954 School Picnic At Iowa No. 8 Ends Year's Work (By Ruby Jahn)
School Picnic - The annual community picnic of the Iowa No. 8 district was held at the schoolhouse Sunday noon, May 23. Present were the teacher, Florence Outhouse and her husband, Leslie; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Ehlers, Annette, Allan, and Charles; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Ehlers, Eleanor, Elaine, Gene and Larry; Emil Ehlers, Mr. and Mrs. Louie Hargens, Jerry, Lila, Arden, Marion and Marlene; Darlene Kruse, Eleanor Hansen, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Fabian, Marlene and Janet; Mrs. George Wegner, Janice, Cathy and Donna; Mrs. Pete Jurgensen, Hazel, Gerald and Harold; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Handlos, Joyce and Janet, and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Stammer, Lowell and Lola.


Page 123 of the Manning Schools history book

1957 MHS graduates: Elke Bunz (valedictorian), Diane Dalgety, Richard Dammann, Raymond Fink, Darlene Genzen, Royce Genzen, Jon Groteluschen, Eugene Haberl (salutatorian), Janell Hansen, Ronald Hansen, Jeanette Henriksen, Ronald Hodne, Robert Horbach, Patricia Irlbeck, Dale Jansen, Larry Klocke, Kay Knobbe, Thomas Koon, Darlene Kruse, Robert Laverty, Alan Leinen, Betty Lengemann, Beverly Lerssen, Larry Lohrmann, Myra Meeves, Lenus Mundt, Dianne Nelson, Larry Nielsen, Catherine Nulle, Merlin Otto, Betty Peters, Larry Popp, Richard Popp, Shirley Puck, Warren Puck, Karen Rix, Karen Rowedder, Dennis Saunders, Gary Schroeder, Victor Schwiesow, Laurel Singsank, Marilyn Spieker, Richard Vehrs, AnnaBelle Vennink, Darlys Vollstedt, Vernon Wagner, Errol Wegner, Cleo Weller, Anna Zerwas, Larry Zerwas

1957 former students: Donald Abel, Elaine Ahrenholtz, Virginia Backhaus, Derald Barkalow, Dick Behrens, Fred Branning, Leon Brockelsby, Robert Doerning, Lyle Drees, Loy Fitz II, Kenneth Frahm, Leland Friedrichsen, James Fritz, Janice Hagedorn, Ronnie Hagedorn, Marilyn Hansen, Martha Hansen, Philip Hansen, Mary Himes, Jane Hinners, Jeanette Hugg, Roger Justice, Richard Kellogg, Phyllis Kienast, Harold Kinney, Sue Knisley, Neva Martens, Lance Masters, Glenn McLaughlin, Marsha Lou Ochsner, Joseph Peter, Roger Petersen, Craig Platter, Marilyn Richardson, Marlys Sander, Ronnie Schiltz, Linda Schumann, Katharine Shields, Cicily Ann Spicer, Terry Travis, Ruel Whitcher, Jr., Ronnie Wyatt

Concert Band 1956
Back: Barbara Vollmer, Sylvia Vollstedt, Linda Heithoff, Carol Vollstedt, Gary Schroeder, Roger Koepke, Dennis Grimm, Joel Grundmeier, Ruth Ohde, Mr. Dwane Mickelson
Third: Karen Rix, Darlene Genzen, Myra Meeves, Susan Rowedder, Bob Beisch, Rae Lynne Wycoff, Dale Jansen, Karen Carstens, Cynthia Peters, Darlene Kruse, Betty Lengemann, Beverly Dalgety, AnnaBelle Vennink, Janice Ahrendsen, Sam Musfeldt, Phil Knaack, Darryl Jahn, Gordon Anthony, Warren Puck, Jon Groteluschen
Second: Janice Laurinat, Carol Antone, Delores Ahrendsen, Sandra Dammann, Mary Frahm, Sharon Niederfrank, Barbara Johnson, Linda Warner, Jeanette Fink, Betty Hoffman, Judy Wegner, Rita Wellendorf, Leon Brockelsby, Richard Brockelsby, Paul Hass, Ronnie Bromert, Gary Koon, Ray Fink, Larry Genzen, Jack Hansen, Dick Wellendorf
Front: Darlys Vollstedt, Marcia Martens, Janet Kuhl, Sharon Schrum, Kay Ramsey, Janice Jensen, Julia Johnson, Elke Bunz, Deanna Donaghu

School articles

April 11, 1954 Zion Lutheran Confirmation

Back: Vincent Ress, Kenneth Frahm, Dale Jansen, Pastor John Ansorge, Larry Lohrmann, Gary Schroeder, Wesley Cooper
Middle: Marilyn Sonksen, Ruth Ohde, Marilyn Bogatzke, Darlene Kruse, Catherine Nulle, Janice Ford, Berneil Antone
Front: Royce Genzen, Barbara Vollmer, Gary Neubaum, Susan Jansen, Judith Wegner, Stanley Spies, Carol Vollstedt

Carl Arthur Kruse was the son of Charles & Anna (Schroeder) Kruse - Charles & Anna were Darlene's paternal grandparents.
Chris Ehrichs was a step-father to Carl Arthur Kruse.


Anna & Chris Ehrichs 1926


Chris Ehrichs & Anna (Schroeder) Kruse-Ehrichs


Charles & Anna (Schroeder) Kruse
Anna - sister to John Schroeder and Bertha (Schroeder) Ehrichs


Edward, Carl Arthur, Harry Kruse


Carl Arthur, Harry, Edward Kruse


Marie (Ehrichs) Hagedorn with Charles Edward Kruse
Charles was the son of Marie's 1/2 brother Edward Kruse


Back: Bertha (Schroeder) Ehrichs, Anna Schroeder
Front: Ella Kruse


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