Darlene Wilson Bess, of Palmer, Alaska, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Darlene was born on August 27, 1938, to John W. Wilson Sr. and Esther R. Wilson (Allen) in Cottage Grove, Oregon. She grew up loving to play in the outdoors and began a lifelong love of camping, gardening and bird watching. She played amidst the majestic fir trees and small creeks of the Willamette Valley region with her older brother, John and younger sister, Betty. The connection she felt to the environment led to her eventual study of biology at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. While at Linfield, Darlene met her first husband, James L. Pigg. In 1959, they moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where Darlene stepped back from her educational pursuits in order to focus on the start of their young family. She and Jim welcomed their first child, Valerie, in 1961 and soon after, their second child, Marty in 1962. After four years in the dreaded desert climate, the family relocated to Southern California, where she enjoyed birdwatching, gardening, sewing, cooking, home decorating, Cub Scouting with Marty, playing cello, and singing. She had a way of turning simple things into happy occasions. She made homemade play dough and sewed her children’s clothing, made amazing Halloween costumes and took pleasure in making her home a welcome, comfortable place to be. Darlene’s marriage to Jim ended in 1979, and in 1980 she married Howard Bess. Together they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, eventually settling in Palmer where they began a new life, chasing adventure. Darlene enrolled at the University of Anchorage, Alaska and received a BA in Social Work. She became an administrator in Long Term Care for the elderly. She sang in the church choir, enjoyed needle work and quilting, hosted tea parties for her grandchildren, attended school events, played croquet, excelled in Scrabble and solving crossword puzzles, and always had fresh cookies in the cookie jar. Her family was the most important thing in the world to her and her warmth extended to her new family members after marrying Howard. She welcomed with open arms her three grown stepchildren, Phil, Jill and Kay. During 43 years of marriage to Howard, together they welcomed 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She adored her grandchildren and honored them, each one, as interesting, contributing young people. Darlene had an accepting and kind heart, letting everyone in her life know that they were loved and good beyond their failings. Darlene’s spirit is deeply rooted in those she leaves behind – in the flash of her smile, the spark in her eyes, the determination of her mind, the joy to be found in the world around us, and the goodness we learned by example to spread to others. Her legacy of love carries on, exponentially, in the lives of those she touched; by her measure, that is a life well-lived. Darlene was predeceased by her mother, Esther Allen Wilson and father, John W. Wilson Sr.; her first husband, James L. Pigg and her daughter in law, Barbara Bess. She is survived by her loving husband, Howard Bess, brother John W. Wilson, Jr. (Shirley) and sister Betty Schrenk (Cory); daughter Valerie Pigg Rozzi (John), son Martin W. Pigg (Kim), stepson Philip Bess, stepdaughter Jill Bess Neimeyer (Joel), stepdaughter Kay Bess (Tim) and grandchildren Cedar Rabun, Summer Rozzi Kathol, Zoe Viola, Brook Pigg, Raleigh Pigg, Jennifer Bess, Peter Bess, Alexander Bess, Kevin Neimeyer, Katie Neimeyer and Esther Klassen, as well as many nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren. Services will be held at the United Protestant Church, 713 South Denali Street in Palmer, Alaska on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 2pm. Darlene loved flowers and they would be welcomed but she would also have loved donations to worthy organizations. The family requests any donations be made to Ancora Home Health and Hospice in Wasilla, Alaska (907-561-9240) or the American Parkinson’s Association - https://www.apdaparkinson.org….