Vera E. Darling Dukleth, 86

Vera E. Darling Dukleth, 86, passed away Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, at the Lake View Care Center in Bigfork.

Vera was born in Sept. 19, 1921, in Columbia Falls to Ida and Arthur Green. She was the youngest of four children. She went through all 12 years of school in Columbia Falls, where she participated in sports and many of the school activities.

She was married to Floyd R. "Flip" Darling on Sept. 24, 1939, in Troy. They lived in Troy for a short time and then Flip got a job at the Bigfork Ranger Station and they lived there for nine years raising their two children, Pat and Michael. Vera worked several years at the old Lake Cafe. She and Irene Crone started the first Brownie group in Bigfork.

In 1956 Vera, Flip and kids moved to Columbia Falls where Flip continued working for the Forest Service.

Vera worked at the Davall Merc and for over 20 years at the Bank of Columbia Falls.

She enjoyed taking long walks, swimming, camping, rides in Glacier Park, making quilts and afghans, and working on various craft projects. She volunteered for years at the Klothes Kloset, a church sponsored thrift store, and at the C.F. Visitor Center. Vera was a member of the C.F. Methodist Church where she had been very active in many of its groups and functions. She was the Churchwoman of the Year in 1985.

Flip passed away in 1986 and Vera maintained her home in Columbia Falls.

Several years later Vera met and married an old childhood school friend, Owen Dukleth, in 1994 in Columbia Falls. They continued living in Columbia Falls where they stayed active in the church and at the Senior Center.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Floyd "Flip" Darling, in 1986, and Owen Dukleth in 2006; and brothers Wilford and Henry Green.

Vera is survived by her daughter, Pat Darling, of Bigfork; and son, Michael Darling, of Palm Springs, Calif.; and a sister, Grace Larkin, of Whitefish.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, at the Columbia Falls United Methodist Church, with the Rev. David Merkel officiating.

The family has requested that memorials be made in Vera's name to the Columbia Falls Klothes Kloset.

Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is in charge of the arrangements.