Darlene Lavonne Artner

Darlene LaVonne Artner age 96, of Saint James, MN, died on March 30, 2023, at her home.

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, St. James, on Friday, April 21, 2023 at 2:00 pm.  A visitation with reception and refreshments will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

The clergy will be Rev. David Lick. Interment will be at Fairview Memorial Cemetery in Fairmont.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in St. James, Minnesota.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Darlene LaVonne (Smith) Artner was born on December 7, 1926 to Joseph Christopher and Alice Ruth (Willard) Smith in Rolling Green Township, Martin County, MN.  She started school in Huntley, MN before the family moved to a farm in Rutland Township, near Northrup.  She completed her 8th grade education in District 31, White Lily School.  She was baptized in the Grenada Methodist Church, where she later sang in the church choir.  She had five brothers, Emerell, Dale, Lowell, Wendell and Donald; 3 sisters, Evelyn, Vernald and Dorothy.  On July 30, 1948 she was married to Joseph  Leo Artner at the Methodist Parsonage in Fairmont, MN.  Joe's job for the railroad moved the family to Ringsted, IA where their daughter, Lola was born.  In 1957 the family moved to Butterfield, MN.  There, Darlene was a member of the Presbyterian Church until it closed and she became a member of the St James Presbyterian Church.  She taught Sunday School for many years both in Ringsted and Butterfield.  She was a home maker.  After Joes' retirement they built a home in Ormsby, MN.  Joe died in 1993.  Darlene later moved to St James with her daughter Lola and grandson Daryl.  She loved her Lord, family and friends.  She loved growing flowers in her garden and "old time" music.  She always said " I'd rather dance than eat!" - and she loved to eat!

Darlene is survived by her daughter, Lola Johnson, grandchildren, Brenda (Rick) Anderson, Kevin (Laura) Johnson, Daryl Johnson; stepson, Gene (Carla) Artner, grandchildren, Alan (Lori) Artner, Amy Denn; great-grandchildren, Jordan Anderson, Justin Anderson, Alyssa Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Jessica Denn, Isaac (Gabriela) Denn; 1 sister, Dorothy (Charles) Wardrip, and lots of nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; 5 brothers; 2 sisters and son-in-law, Robert Johnson.