[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 15 (Friday, February 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E177-E178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MINNESOTA STATE REPRESENTATIVE DARLENE LUTHER, WHO PASSED AWAY JANUARY 
                                30, 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL LUTHER

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2002

  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, I want to express our family's most sincere 
thanks to the hundreds of people who have sent cards, flowers, 
memorials, e-mails and so many other demonstrations of sympathy. This 
tremendous outpouring of affection and love for Darlene has genuinely 
touched us and we deeply appreciate all of the memories, feelings, and 
prayers that help to make this difficult time more bearable.
  This outpouring of affection has, I believe, also been appreciated by 
the public at large, people who maybe didn't know Darlene but who have 
seen the news coverage. We continue to get comments from people who 
never knew her but are obviously struck by the way in which a public 
official can be admired, respected and loved.
  I often said that to meet Darlene was to immediately like her, and to 
get to know her was to love her. The truth of that became so clear in 
talking with the many people at the visitation and funeral. Everyone 
loved Darlene and they let me know it. It really was a wonderful, 
wonderful outpouring of love and support.
  Losing a cherished member of a family is something all of us have in 
common and the shared experience of grief unites us as human beings. 
Darlene would probably be embarrassed by all of the attention she has 
received. She was both a private person and a public servant, but she 
would be pleased that so many different people form all political 
persuasions have honored her. It would be her hope that this would be a 
small step forward in her life-long effort to unite people.
  Our family has lost a daughter, sister, mother, and wife. Our lives, 
though they will never be the same, have been tremendously enriched by 
having Darlene with us for as long as we did. In fact, out of all of 
the campaigns for office in which I've been involved, my favorite was 
when Darlene was first elected to the Minnesota House of 
Representatives. I was in the Minnesota State Senate then, which 
included the district where she was running, and I was also up for 
reelection. While campaigning, people would tell me, ``I just love your 
wife,'' and of course, the best part of the campaign was when she got 
more votes than her husband. I always joked with her that if she ran 
against me, it would certainly end my political career.
  Darlene was especially blessed with a generous spirit. Her favorite 
time of the year was the holidays because that gave her an additional 
reason to give gifts. She always had a little something during the 
holidays for anyone who touched our family during the year. We would 
tease her when we heard a car drive by that they must be coming for 
their Christmas gift. But her generosity encompassed so much more than 
gift giving. Darlene was generous with her smile, with her time, and 
with her love for her family, friends and her community.
  God gave Darlene the gift of physical beauty, but she possessed other 
qualities even more lovely within her--kindness, generosity, a passion 
for justice and a commitment to helping others. Darlene was truly a 
beautiful person in every sense of the word. Her life has impacted so 
many people, and I hope and pray that her example continues to touch 
and guide each of us.
  As we look to the future it is my hope that we will all remember the 
things that Darlene's life was truly about--family, friends, faith, the 
pursuit of opportunities for all and the understanding that a life 
committed to public service is one of the highest callings. Losing 
Darlene is immensely difficult, but we know that we do not grieve 
alone. Our state has lost a genuinely compassionate public servant--
someone who was absolutely committed to helping those who need help and 
to creating equal opportunities for all.
  There's a saying: ``It matters not how long a star shines, what is 
remembered is the brightness of its light.'' Our children, Alex and 
Alicia, and I thank everyone who helped make Darlene's light shine very 
bright.

[[Page E178]]



                          ____________________