Darlene Catherine Olenick, 70, died early Sunday morning, Aug. 30, 2009, in a Missoula hospital, following a nearly one-year courageous battle with lymphoma.

      Dar was born in Butte on May 10, 1939, to William and Catherine (Harvey) Clark.   She attended McKinley Elementary and Butte High School, and met her best friend and the love of her life, Frank Olenick, at their 10-year class reunion.   They married on April 27, 1968, and shared more than 40 wonderful years together.   Although they never had any children of their own, they were instrumental in the lives of their nieces and nephews.   Dar was “Second Mom” to many who will miss her dearly.   She will forever be remembered as the rock of the family.

      Darlene was a legal secretary and court transcriptionist until 1983, when she went to work as an administrative assistant at Montana Tech.   She retired from the Digger Athletic Department in 2002.

      Dar had a love of animals, particularly black horses and black labs.   She was a member of the Petticoat Patrol, Back Country Horsemen, and Vigilante Saddle Club.   Dar and Frank enjoyed camping, riding horses into high country lakes, and supporting their nieces’ and nephews’ activities.   She also loved chocolate.   Her favorite gift was a gallon of chocolate syrup to be used in her nightly milkshake.   Shortly before her diagnosis, Dar and Dody accompanied Jodie and her family on a trip to Disneyland.   It was one of the highlights of her life.

      Darlene is survived by her husband, Frank;   sister, Dolores (Jerry) Brothers;   sister-in-law, Dianne (Marty) Resetar;   adopted brother, Bill (Diana) Clark;   nieces and nephews, Jerry (Jane) Brothers, Wayne (Liane) Brothers, Jodie (Dave) Mason, Cathy (Kelly) Maloney, Christie (Scott) Harris, Debbie (Tom) Rodman, Cindy (Dave) Allen, and Tammy Traberg;   great-nieces and great-nephews, Dee Brothers, Katie Brothers, Erik, Ryan and MaKinzie Darlene Mason, Samantha Maloney, Lexie Kambich, Jason, Chris and Jennifer Rodman, Brandon, Todd, Cody and Alison Allen;   great-great-niece and great-great-nephew, Devon and Arianna Rodman.   Darlene also had many special friends, too numerous to mention.

      Darlene’s remains are in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home, where friends may call beginning at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3.   Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Entombment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery Mausoleum.

      Memorials may be made to the Montana Tech Athletic Department, local humane society, or Back Country Horsemen.

      Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com/obits.