reception and refreshments will be prior to the service from 1-2 p.m. Friday, April 21 at the church. Interment will be at Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery, Fairmont. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in St. James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Darlene LaVonne (Smith) Artner was born Dec. 7, 1926, to Joseph Christopher and Alice Ruth (Willard) Smith in Rolling Green Township, Martin County, Minn. She started school in Huntley, Minn. before the family moved to a farm in Rutland Township, near Northrop. She completed her 8th grade education in District 31, White Lily School. She was baptized in the Granada Methodist Church, where she later sang in the church choir. She had five

brothers, Emerell, Dale, Lowell, Wendell and Donald; three sisters, Evelyn, Vernald and Dorothy. On July 30, 1948, she was married to Joseph Leo Artner at the Methodist parsonage in Fairmont, Minn. Joe’s job for the railroad moved the family to Ringsted, Iowa, where their daughter, Lola, was born. In 1957, the family moved to Butterfield, Minn. 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 homemaker. After Joe’s retirement they built a home in Ormsby, Minn. 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; one sister, Dorothy (Charles) Wardrip; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers; two sisters; and son-in-law, Robert Johnson.

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