Darlene Faye Alger, 92, Lakewood, Colorado and formerly of LaCrosse, Kansas, died Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at Bonaventure Senior Living in Thornton, Colorado.
She was born November 22, 1933 in Manhattan, Kansas, the oldest child of James Winston, Sr. and Hildred L. (Noland) Hedinger. On November 8, 1950 she was united in marriage to Wayne L. Alger in Salina, and they celebrated 66 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on June 12, 2017.
Children were her priority, and she loved raising her daughters, being a constant caregiver for her granddaughters, as well extending her nurturing care to the children she babysat. She enjoyed serving as PTA president, making baked goods, which were a hit at all the school events, and working at Leaning Tree and Borg’s Children’s Cottage.
Darlene was a wonderful homemaker. Her home was welcome to all and filled with warmth, love, delicious food, freshly brewed coffee, and lively conversation around her kitchen table. She cherished the special close-knit bond she had with her siblings, and as the matriarch of her family, she was loved and respected. Known to be an early riser, Darlene’s mornings were often filled with phone conversations with her siblings and dear friends. She loved working with her daughter Cynthia at her business, PDG Pre-Press and sneaking away together for a little gambling at the casino. Most of all, Darlene’s greatest joy came from being a great grandma to her four great grandchildren whom she dearly loved.
Survivors include her daughter Dianna Turner of Wichita, KS, son-in-law Kelvin Bogle of Westminster, CO, granddaughters Danica Overton (Bob) of Hinsdale, IL and Darci Brunton (Kenny) of Thornton, CO, great grandchildren Lilja Balaji (Naveen), Liam Carden, Preston Brunton, and Burke Brunton, brothers James Hedinger (Sandy) of Ponca City, OK, Jim Brennecke (Julie Clark) of Springfield, MO, sisters Jeanne Friess of Minneapolis, KS, Sharon Barnard (Clifford) of Derby, Linda Hall of Neodesha, KS and Marcia Feather of Derby, KS, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father James Hedinger, Sr., her mother Hildred Feather, husband Wayne Alger, daughter Cynthia Bogle, and her brother David Feather.
A Celebration of Life will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays, Kansas, with Pastor Chad Pritchett officiating. Burial will follow in LaCrosse City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until service time at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Fighting Blindness https://give.fightingblindness.org/team/789818. Condolences and memories of Darlene may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com