Jill's Journal: You’re gonna love Marlene and Darlene

I don’t know about you, but after enduring a year-long election season and everything else that life smacks us with, I’m sure ready for a good laugh. And I bet you are, too.

Fortunately, we’ll have the opportunity to step into the holiday season with some big laughs when a pair of hilarious gals roll into Brandon on Friday, Dec. 4 with the Marlene & Darlene ‘Gossip and Giggles Holiday Show.’ It’s all going to take place at Tailgator’s Bar & Grill, where a couple of comical gals from across the border are sure to tickle your funny bone. The fictious Norwegian ladies from ‘Leota’ (Minn.) who just happen to travel the countryside in a ‘Toyota’ are putting together a show just for Brandon. Yep, they’re going to make some fun of us, and who doesn’t love to laugh at themselves?!? And along with the comedy, there’s going to be a meal, too. But don’t look for lefse on your plate. This isn’t Brandon Lutheran, folks!

The holiday event is an endeavor of the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. It serves as another avenue for us to enjoy a holiday event right here in the 57005, as a way to support a local business, which in turn produces the all-important sales tax that helps our city pave roads, build parks and accomplish a whole lot more. 

If you’re curious how to score a ticket to the hilarity, paired with a tasty meal, visit the Chamber website at brandonvalleychamber.com or stop by the Chamber office to purchase. Tickets are $65 per person, or $550 for a table of eight.

So, just who, exactly, are Darlene and Marlene Brauer?

They are the comedic brainchild of a couple of gals from Luverne, Minn., that I just happen to know. Brenda Winter and D.J. Luetje initially brought the middle-aged Brauer sisters to life in 2018 for a fundraising event, and they’ve kept audiences giggling ever since. Brenda writes an occasional column for the Luverne newspaper, the Rock County Star-Herald, which is where I scavenged their background information from. According to a column Brenda wrote in April 2019, Marlene and Darlene Brauer are the oldest of six sisters from Leota. The other sisters – Charlene, Arlene, Carlene and Linda – did not follow their older siblings into show business but instead live productive, decent lives. The younger Brauers also do not share their sisters’ penchant for filling their purses with banquet food.
Marlene and Darlene always take the Toyota when venturing out of Leota while three of the younger sisters drive Fords. (Linda drives a Lexus and lives in the Twin Cities.)
A criminal background check revealed that Marlene was once accused of filling her purse at an all-you-can-eat lefse bar, but the charges were dropped because she insisted no one could prove she hadn’t arrived at the bar with the lefse already in her purse.
Darlene has a more checkered past. Records show she’s twice been arrested for disorderly conduct: once for wrestling another customer during a misunderstanding about coupon days at Shopko and once during a traffic stop for threatening a police officer with a bag of Edgerton buns.

Now, I don’t know about you, but after reading their rap sheet, I’m not sure whether Marlene and Darlene are coming to Brandon to entertain us or to see what they can get away with while they’re here.

One thing is certain: These two sisters have a knack for finding trouble, and I have a feeling Brandon residents will have no trouble finding something to laugh about.

So, consider this your invitation to leave the worries of the world at the door, gather up a few friends and join the fun. After all, we could all use a little more laughter in our lives, especially as we head into the holiday season.

And if you happen to see two Norwegian sisters driving a Toyota around town, just remember ... keep an eye on your lefse, your Edgerton buns and, for goodness’ sake, your purse!