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 15 th 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 28 th , 1972. From that union they had a daughter, Gail who was born

on January 3 rd 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 visit the sidebar to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Darlene.

Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Darlene and her family.