Darlene Janice Stanford-Adams

Darlene Janice Stanford-Adams, 68, of Wahpeton, ND, passed away Friday, January 6, 2023, at her residence under the care CHI Hospice.  Her memorial service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at the United Church of Christ in Wahpeton, ND.  Visitation will be one hour prior.  Pastor Bruce Adams will officiate.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND. 

Darlene Janice Stanford was born December 7, 1954, to Sherril William and Arlene Louise (Carl) Stanford of rural Valley City, ND.  She grew up on the family farm with a sister and two brothers.  She attended school in Valley City- attending Ritchie, Jefferson, and Valley City High School, along with Valley City State University. 

She was an avid horse person.  She loved riding and caring for horses as well as photographing them. In her photography, she also loved taking pictures of nature scenes. 

While in college, she met and later married Ken Adams from Tappen and Bismark, ND.  They made their home in and near Valley City for many years.  Darlene worked as a cost accountant for much of her working years.  She and Ken purchased a downtown building in Valley City, so she was able to own and operate a book store in the location that once housed “the Fair Store”, a well- known store in Valley City in earlier days. 

Flooding in the Sheyenne River Valley caused Darlene and Ken to move to a new location.  Ken was already serving as a pastor in Wahpeton, ND, and had been traveling to and from there on weekends for a while, so they made the move to Wahpeton.  At that time, Darlene’s book store became online only.

With this move from their ranch, Darlene gave her horses to a family near Hillsboro, ND.  Now, living in the city, without her horses, she and Ken chose Yorkies as furry friends.  Like her Arabian horses, she found them to be much like her, stubborn and independent.

Darlene is survived by her husband, Ken, Wahpeton, ND; sister, Diane Merkes, Valley City, ND; brother, Dennis (Madonna) Stanford, Detroit Lakes, MN; brothers and sisters in law, Lori (Alan) Kiefert, Valley City, ND, Bruce (Cathy) Adams, Mandan, ND, Loren Adams, Dickinson, ND, James (Becca) Adams, Pipe Creek, TX; nieces and nephews, Sara (Wade) Nielsen, Clear Lake, IA, Cole (Lynelle) Stanford, Crested Butte, CO, Morgan (Matt) Sylvester, Minneapolis, MN, Angela (Adam) Stanford Bender, Santa Cruz, CA, Katie (Bill) Stanford Mayhall, Phoenix, AZ, Lisa (Jerrod) Yokum, Valley City, ND, Megan Stanford, Denver CO, Vanessa (Eric) Skolness, Glyndon, MN, Chris Merkes, Valley City, ND, Calli (Nick) Hanson, Mandan, ND, Amy Adams, Mandan, ND, Evan Latham, Pipe Creek, TX, and Noah, Jayden, Isabelle, RaeAnna Adams, Pipe Creek, TX.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sherril and Arlene; brother, Dale Stanford; and two very dear friends Laurie Holden and Michele Green, with whom she is now reunited.

-Seen things are temporary, Unseen things are eternal. “I am now eternal.”

Family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to CHI Hospice, or to United Church of Christ in Wahpeton or Hankinson.