Meet Your Neighbor Darlene Bennett, born in rural Macomb, November 17, 1937. Darlene is the daughter of the late Paul and Mignon Thomson, and has five brothers.
Her elementary school years were spent in a country school in Cuba and then in Smithfield. She graduated from High School in Cuba, then took nurses training at Graham School of Nursing in Canton, graduating in 1958.
In Canton she met her husband to be, Dean Bennett. Dean's sister was working at Graham Hospital and she introduced Dean and Darlene.
Dean and Darlene were married in 1958 at the Church of the Brethren in Canton. They began their married life in La Harpe and are still living here. They were blessed with two children, Michael, born in 1959, and Denise, born in 1961, both born at La Harpe Hospital. Three grandchildren were added to their family-Bart and Cole Thompson and Kayla Bennett.
Darlene worked at La Harpe Hospital for several years before joining the nursing staff at Carthage Memorial Hospital working their for approximately 10 years. She is now retired and enjoys her flowers and doing family genealogy.
She is an active member of La Harpe Historical Society where she helps with a lot of research. She also works in the Library at the La Harpe Christian Church.