It is with much sorrow that we announce the passing of Darlene Katherine (Fettig) Portscheller, 68, Newnan, Ga., she died Wednesday, September 3, 2014, at Greenville, Ga., due to complications of pneumonia. Darlene’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Richardton, with Fr. Boniface Muggli, OSB as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, with a rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services a the church on Tuesday.

Over the past decade, Darlene has suffered from numerous health and mental issues and lived in a nursing home for the past five years. It is only fitting that Darlene would return to her birth state as her final resting place. She was born to Sebastian and Ann Fettig on August 26, 1946 in Dickinson; she had a twin brother Duane who left this life in November, 2013. Darlene’s parents, Sebastian and Ann also preceded her in death.

Darlene went to school in her hometown of Richardton. She met the love of her life, Donald James Portscheller at a dance in town. They were wed in St. Mary’s Catholic Church on September 20, 1965…the same church where she had been baptized, received her 1st Holy Communion and Confirmation. In December of 1965, Darlene and Don relocated to the state of Washington when Don got a job with Boeing.

In October of 1966, Mom had her first child, Dawn Marie Portscheller. In July of 1968, she welcomed their second daughter, Shelly Ann Portscheller. With their family now complete, they moved to California in hopes of Don acquiring a job in the airline industry in Los Angeles; which he secured within one week with Western Airlines. Later, Darlene and Don purchased a home in Garden Grove, California, where they raised their daughters and made wonderful, lifelong friends.

In 1987, Western Airlines merged with Delta Air Lines and Darlene and Don were transferred to Georgia, eventually building their first home in Jonesboro. 1992 was an exciting year for their family when both of their daughters married within the same month of June, just one week apart in two different states! Dawn Marie married Steve Swansbrough in California on June 20 and Shelly married Jody Thompson in Georgia on June 27, 1992.

Darlene has four grandchildren: Ashley Lauren Thompson, Jonathan Paul Thompson, Jessica Jie Cai Swansbrough and Erica Ya Hao Swansbrough. She loved being known as their Nana.

Don retired from Delta Air Lines in 2002, partially due to the beginning of mom’s health problems. The family hopes that people remember Darlene’s sweet ability to connect with people, the importance of God and her family, love of cooking, music, dancing, decorating, scrapbooking and her love of good conversation. Before she had issues with her memory due to Alzheimer’s, she loved to keep up with all of our extended family and friends around the country and especially those “back home” here in North Dakota.

The family feels blessed that she will be watching over them without fear of memory loss, or physical pain. Darlene is survived by her loving husband, Donald Portscheller, her daughters and son-in-laws as well as her four grandchildren; her sister Patricia Dutra (George), brother Raymond Fettig (Virginia), sister Mariann Voegele (Tom), sister Melinda Andrews (Dave) and many beloved nieces, nephews and extended relatives.