Darlene Francis Roberts

Darlene Francis Roberts

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Darlene Francis Roberts. She will be greatly missed by all.

“Darn” absolutely embraced life, she could light up a room with her smile and fun loving personality. She could cook up a storm and whip up a mean potato salad and rice dressing. She loved the holidays—especially the Fourth of July and Christmas, probably due to the bright lights and sparkles.

Darlene was born on February 15th 1945 in New England, ND to Emma and Frank Reiss. From there the family moved to Yakima, WA for a short while and then on to Victor, MT, finally relocating to Anaconda, MT.

Darlene and her brothers and sisters loved Anaconda. Her early years were spent riding bikes, going to dances and hanging out at “Bill’s Drive In”, plus attending Anaconda Senior High School where she graduated in 1964. Shortly after graduation she went to work at St Ann’s Hospital as a cook, then she worked at Deer Lodge County Day Care as a helper.

Darlene met and married the love of her life Robert “Bob” Roberts on November 28th, 1972. From that union they had a daughter, Gail who was born on January 3rd, 1973.

In addition to raising a family, Darlene found time for community service such as assisting with shopping and meal planning for Head Start. She was employed at Hearthstone as a cook until she suffered an injury and became disabled.

Bob and Darlene had many adventures together. They loved to go for long rides around the lake and surrounding areas, engage in general hell raising, attend barbecues and family reunions, and hang out with friends and family.

She also loved photography, making home movies, baking beautiful cakes, working on “story books” with grandson Casey, painting with granddaughter Kali, or baking treats and making wonderful ceramic gifts for friends and family. On many Friday nights she could be found at Phillips Ceramics, painting ceramics with her friends, sisters, nieces, daughter and eventually her grand-daughter Kali. She loved to visit, laugh and swap stories while she cleaned and painted her “ceramics”. Darlene won several awards for her painting skills. Her friends affectionately referred to her as the “Queen of Glitter,” and she was always fond of saying everything could use more “shimmers.”

Her last years were spent at the Community Nursing Home in Anaconda, where she made friends with both residents and staff. Darlene made the best of her time there. She loved to have fun, and as many of the staff could attest, “if she got that gleam in her eye, you had better watch out, because she was hatching a plan.” She loved when the children would visit and she could work on crafts with them. She was a great listener and a friend to all, and a surrogate grandmother to many of the staff and their families.

Darlene is survived by her daughter Gail (Tom Vine) Roberts, grandchildren Casey and Kali Vine, sister Elaine Thomas, brother Lester (LaGay) Reiss , sisters-in-law Nancy Reiss, Carla (Roy) Harrington and brother-in-law Carl Cupp.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob, brothers Ken and David (Carol) Reiss, sister Peggy (Gary)Pearson, sister-in-law Roberta Hungerford, brothers-in-law Ronald and Kenny Roberts, Bill Thomas, and nephew Keith Roberts.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, January 11, 2024 at Holy Family Church, 217 W Pennsylvania St., Anaconda. A Visitation will begin at 9:30 am. Following Mass there will be a Graveside Service at Mount Olivet, W. 5th Cottonwood St. There will be a luncheon in the Hunthausen Center of Holy Family Catholic Church to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Anaconda Nursing Home Foundation, Anaconda Hospice, Anaconda Catholic Community, or you can donate to the luncheon fund.

Please go to www.longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Darlene.