Darrell Lavern Berns was born on Tuesday, September 11, 1951 in Monroe. He was the second child of Lavern and Hildegarde  "Sallie" (Andrews) Berns.

He graduated from Dundee High School in 1969 and completed his B.S. at Michigan State University in 1978.

On June 24, 1971, Darrell married Debra Pollack in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They had two children.

Prior to his death on May 24, 1991 at the age of 38, Darrell worked as a Property Specialist for the State of Michigan and lived in Lansing. He is buried at St Matthew Lutheran Church cemetery in Raisinville Township, Monroe County, Michigan.