Darlene Joyce (Petosa) Shaffer died peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, in Wesley Homes Long-Term Nursing Residence in Des Moines, Wash.   She had been a resident the past several years as a result of sarcoidosis the last 15 years.

      Darlene was born Jan. 4, 1938, to Eunice (Lund) Petosa and Jim Petosa, in Columbus.   They moved to Butte in the early 1940s.   After their divorce, Darlene's mother remarried Albert Niva, with whom she had two daughters - Sherry and Sandy.   Darlene attended public schools in Butte, graduating from Butte High School in 1956.   She always maintained a high grade point average and was a member of the National Honor Society in high school.   She belonged to Job's Daughters, where she became honored queen.

      Darlene married Robert Shaffer in Butte on June 28, 1958.   They moved to Minneapolis in 1959, where she was employed as executive secretary for the head of quality control of the Pillsbury Corp.   Their two children were born in Minneapolis - Mark Shaffer in 1962, and Daneen Shaffer in 1964.   In January 1965, the family moved to Seattle, where Darlene was employed as an executive secretary for Boeing Corp. for 17 years.

      Darlene was preceded in death by her father, Jim Petosa;   aunt, Pearl Landon, with whom she lived during part of her childhood;   former father- and mother-in-law, Wesley and Rose Shaffer;   sister-in-law, Joan Anderson;   brother -in-law, Hanford Estabrook.

      Darlene is survived by her former husband, Robert (Dorothy) Shaffer, Des Moines, Wash.;   son, Mark (Bobbie) Shaffer;   daughter, Daneen Curran, both of Lake Jackson, Texas;   mother, Eunice Kivela, Missoula;   sisters, Sherry (Ken) Yates, Opportunity, Sandy (Gene) Boschee, Missoula.

      She loved all her grandchildren, Chelsea, Kaela and Mallory Shaffer, Lake Jackson, Janelle and Meagan Curran, Seattle.   Also surviving are former sister-in-law, Peggy Estabrook, Butte;   former brother-in law, Harry (Lois) Anderson, Spokane;   nieces and nephews, Julie (Kirt) Mayson, Joy (Bryan) Coldiron, Butte, Kyle (Megan) Hrabe of Missoula;   other nieces and nephews, Rick (Tammy) Estabrook, Sally (Don) Dwyer, Roger Estabrook, all of Butte, and Sharon Johnston, Missoula, Connie (Edgar) Michel, Portland, Scott (Lori) Anderson, Fairbanks, Alaska, and other numerous relatives.

      Cremation has taken place.   Inurnment will be at a private family service in Mountain View Cemetery prior to the church service.   There will be a memorial service in St. John's Episcopal Church, 15 N. Idaho St., at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.   Family and friends are invited to a reception after the service in the church hall.

      Memorials may be sent to National Sarcoidosis Society, 4747 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Unit 512, Chicago, IL 60615 or charity of the donor's choice.