Darlene Elizabeth Maki

Darlene E. Maki, 85, of Great Falls (Neihart), passed away on December 23, 2019. Darlene was born in Chinook, MT, on February 8, 1934, to David and Ruby Parenteau. She spent her younger years in Chinook. The family eventually moved to Neihart where she attended school. She was a very good student, a cheerleader, and attended Girls’ State. This is where she met the love of her life, Byrd. Darlene and Byrd married on June 21, 1952, and began their family; Vickie, Cathleen, and Dawn. She worked at Mountain Bell as a phone operator for 31½ years and as a custodian at U.S. West (Quest) for nearly 10 years. She and Byrd then continued to be custodians for Golden Triangle Federal Credit Union. It was during this time when they retired to Neihart and she started cooking for Neihart Senior Center. She was one of the “Seniors of the Year” in 1997. Darlene loved crafting, sewing and crocheting which brought love and joy to so many. She created sock monkeys and teddy bears for Law Enforcement to hand out. She brought love and laughter to anyone she encountered, she had a deep love for animals, and they loved her right back. Darlene is survived by her daughters, Vickie (Michael) Jay of Butte, Cathy (Alan) Wronkowski of Great Falls, Dawn (Jack) Prather of Great Falls; sisters, Patricia (Ed) Maki of Great Falls, Ruby Larson of FL, AlphaDee (Gene) O’Brien of FL; brothers, David Parenteau of Great Falls, Gary (Georgie) of Froid, Ben (Jeanie) of Great Falls, Joe (Bonnie) Parenteau of Helena; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Darlene was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Byrd B. Maki; parents, David and Ruby Parenteau; son-in-law, Micheal Jay; and brother, Sam Parenteau. Darlene chose to have no services with a scattering of ashes at a later date. Donations may be made in Darlene’s honor to Boystown , St. Jude, and Warrior Dog Foundation, or Cathy Wronkowski.