Darlene Halvorson Palm

Darlene Halvorson was born in Northwood, North Dakota, on April 23rd, 1939. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents Henry and Corella Halvorson, her kind and generous brother Ardell Halvorson, and faithful and loving husband Francis Allen Palm. She is survived by her three children, Dr. Melody Darlene Palm of Springfield, Missouri, and Valerie Ames Damron and Vance Allen Palm of Bakersfield, California. Other surviving family include her son-in-law Paul Damron, daughter-in-law Carla Palm and grandchildren: Maria, Sophia, Ava, Trinidad and Noah Palm, Crosby Damron, Cooper and Cailey Damron and great-granddaughter Penelope.

Darlene married Allen Palm on August 8th, 1959, at Calvary Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota and began a wonderful life together. They were married almost 59 years before his death in 2018. Shortly after their marriage, they relocated to Florida where Al began flight training to become a pilot for the United States Air Force. For the next thirteen years they traveled the world together: living in Florida, Texas, California, the Philippines, and Germany.

Darlene loved being an officer’s wife and thrived in her travels and new experiences. In 1973 Al left the military to become a pastor and Darlene gracefully transitioned to the role of being a pastor’s wife, which she held and cherished for thirty years. She excelled as a homemaker who was known for her unreasonable hospitality. Darlene served as the women’s ministry leader at Arvin Assembly of God Church and as a sectional leader for the Southern San Joaquin Section and was one of the top fund raisers in Southern California for women’s ministry projects around the world.

In 2004 Al and Darlene relocated to Springfield, Missouri to enjoy a well-earned retirement, the beauty of the Ozarks and a new home. This season of her life was full of travel, friendships and working part-time at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. She left a lasting impression with her beautiful handwritten notes to donors and past students. She boated on Table Rock Lake, cooked for everyone, adventured in her RV, dreamt of a yellow Corvette, sang out of tune to George Strait, giggled endlessly, and reveled in southern Gospel concerts in Branson.

In 2019, Darlene returned to Bakersfield to live closer to family, where she attended church, spent time with loved ones, played countless rounds of Scrabble, and cherished every day until her peaceful death on January 22nd, 2026. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends and leaves a legacy of love, laughter, kindness, hospitality, faith in Jesus, and service to others.

May she enjoy the fruits of her labor as she hears “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”

A celebration of life service will be held on February 28th at 1:00 PM in the small chapel at First Assembly of God , 4901 California Ave, Bakersfield, California.

The family of Darlene Palm would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Magnolia Assisted Living and Hoffmann Hospice of Bakersfield for their compassionate care during her final days. In lieu of flowers we ask that you make a donation to Hoffman Hospice in Bakersfield, California in loving memory of Darlene Palm.