Darlene Chester

Funeral Services for Darlene Ruth Chester, 75, of Baker, MT will be at 2:00 p. m. on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at the Medicine Rocks Church south of Willard, MT with Pastor Ron Burkhalter officiating. Interment will follow in the Medicine Rocks Church Cemetery. Visitation will be 1:00 p. m. to 7:00 p. m. on Friday, November 21st at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker, MT and will continue on Saturday, one hour prior to the time of service at the church. Darlene passed away on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at the Fallon Medical Complex in Baker, MT. Darlene Ruth Chester was born on June 17, 1933, in Baker, MT the daughter of Mart Harold and Violet Lenore (Stultz) Cretsinger. Darlene grew up on the Cretsinger farm south of Willard, where she attended country school and then high school in Baker. After graduating from high school, Darlene attended the Colorado Women?s College in Denver, CO where she received an Associate Degree in Commercial Art. Darlene returned to Baker where she taught at the Ehret country school for one year. In 1950, Darlene met Merlin Edward ?Bud? Chester and the two were married on September 24, 1954 at the Medicine Rocks Church. To this union Beth, Richard and Donna were born. After their marriage, Darlene and Bud lived in Coronado, CA where Bud was stationed in the United States Navy. After Bud?s discharge, the Chester family returned to Baker. In 1976, Darlene and Bud built a new home south of Willard next to the Cretsinger farm. Due to her struggle with MS, Darlene moved into the Parkview Retirement Complex in Baker in 1990. As the disease progressively worsened, Darlene entered the Fallon Medical Complex Nursing Home in 1997 where she has made her home since. Darlene was an accomplished professional seamstress. While living in the country, she enjoyed gardening and canning with her mother. As a gifted artist, Darlene enjoyed knitting, crocheting, quilting and oil painting. In her spare time she loved to read and liked to travel when the opportunity presented itself. Darlene struggled valiantly with MS for 25 years. She was uncomplaining and accepting of what had been sent her way and was a favorite among the staff at the nursing home, whose comments were invariably ?Darlene is so sweet?, ?she never complains?, and ?she is always so appreciative of anything we do for her?. Darlene is survived by her children, Beth (Robert) Chester-Oliger of Seattle, WA, Richard (Patti) Chester of Baker, MT and Donna (Doug) Rowe of Baker, MT; her six grandchildren, Brian (Ashley) Rowe, Erika Rowe, Meagan (Shawn) Bleth, Kristin (Kenrick) Ehret, Anthony Chester and Daniel Chester; and her great-grandson, Jackson Bleth. Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Mart and Violet Cretsinger and her former husband, Bud Chester. Arrangements are under the care of Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker, MT.


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Burial Date: November 22, 2008
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Saturday, Medicine Rocks Church, Willard, MT