Darleen Rachel Getz McLaughlin

Darleen R. McLaughlin, 83 years old of Bowman, ND wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend joined her beloved Gerald and others on January 28, 2013 surrounded by her children at Mountain Vista Medical Center, Mesa, AZ.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Bowman Lutheran Church, Bowman, N.D. Pastor Galen Strand will officiate with burial to follow at Bowman Cemetery. February 4th there will be a Family/Friends celebration of life and sharing memories of Darleen at 7:00 p.m. at the Bowman Lutheran Church.

Darleen Rachel Getz was the first born child of Oscar and Fern (Rue) Getz born on January 21, 1930 at Miles City, MT. She had three brothers and one sister and spent her childhood in the Rhame community. Home and family were always her greatest pleasures and she enjoyed riding with her Dad when he delivered to customers for Standard Oil. She loved the precious times when the Getz, Rue, and McLaughlin families gathered for holidays and special times together. Baking with her friends Bev Monson and Jan Fulton were special reminiscences of their life-long friendships.

She attended school at Rhame and was always enthusiastic and proud to be a Rhame Pirate! Her teammate Lenore Wagner remembers Darleen throwing the ball from the center-line in prayer and desperation. It was a buzzer shot and it went in to make the Rhame Pirates District Champions which was her claim to fame! She helped her parents with the roller skating rink and dance hall in Rhame, which is where she met the love of her life Gerald McLaughlin.

On November 21, 1949 Darleen married Gerald Charles McLaughlin at St. Mels Catholic Church in Rhame, ND. The happy couple lived in Rhame, on the McLaughlin farm in Slope County and resided in Bowman for 58 years. They celebrated 63 years of married life and have been a role model to others about commitment of love to one another.

Darleen worked as a telephone operator for Walt Schaefer at Rhame, a nurse aide at the Rhame Hospital, when her children were small she did ironing for others in the Bowman Community, and she helped with harvest driving grain truck when Gerald worked for the Hiltons. Darleen first began working as a night nurse aide at the Sunset Home on December 16, 1967 for 85 cents per hour. She went to day aide and then to the Activity Department. She worked many good years with Doris Fischer, Director of Nursing. Darleen would entertain residents at her home once a year and the Bowman County Fair was a big weekend with resident's exhibits, the parade, and sing-a-longs. Through the 25 years of working with the residents and staff at Sunset Home and Sunny Apartments Darleen said "It's a very rewarding job because you learn so much from these wonderful people!"

Gerald & Darleen were regulars at the state fire conventions. Darleen was very involved in the Bowman Fire Gals throughout the 33 years Gerald was a volunteer/Chief for the Bowman Fire Department. In 1981 Darleen received the Ollie Siedschlaw Outstanding Citizen of the Year award and in 1983 she became an Honorary Member of the Bowman FBLA.

Darleen enjoyed baking, entertaining, crafts, flowers, gardening, and mowing their yard. Their home was the gathering place for the McLaughlin clan, the Getz family, and for anyone who enjoyed a good visit. Music was especially dear to her and she loved a variety of artists. "You Are My Sunshine" was known as Grandma's song to her grandchildren. Darleen preferred to be home rather than travel however, she really enjoyed the trips she and Gerald took to Branson, MO. Darleen was especially fond of just driving around Bowman, checking on Bruce & Anita's horses, and visiting on the phone with friends and family.

Darleen was preceded in death by her husband Gerald; father Oscar; brothers Dwaine and Leary; sister Margie, son, Monte Lee, grandson Craig II McLaughlin, and son-in-law Donald Belakjon. She is survived by the following family members, who will miss her greatly: daughters: Shari (Ernie) Ward, Brush, CO, Kim (Mike) Humann, Bismarck, ND and sons, Craig (Sarah) McLaughlin, Belfield, ND, and Bruce (Anita) McLaughlin, Bowman, ND; mother Fern Hagemiester, Bowman, ND, brother Lewis (LaVon) Getz, Dickinson, ND; sister-in-laws Patsy Getz, Amidon, ND and JoAnn Getz, Nashwauk, MN; grandchildren Tina (Roger) Thorson, Dickinson, ND, Shawna (Josh) Michelena, Banner, WY, Kirstin (Doug) Cayko, Aurora, CO, Brian (Rachel) Belakjon, Great Falls, MT, Katie (Jesse) Richardson, Joppa, MD, Matthew and Michael McLaughlin, Grand Forks, ND, and Nathan & Grace Humann, Bismarck, ND, great-grandchildren, Breanna Loder, Blythe, Nohl & Margaux Cayko, Paxten, Brinley, & Mayes Belakjon, and Kamy, Dellana, & Jorgen Michelena, and several nieces and nephews