Darlene’s Obituary
May 22, 2021
Darlene J. Dionne, (87) Priest River Idaho; passed away on March 12, 2020, with her family by her side due to complications of congestive heart failure.
Darlene was born and raised in Priest River, Idaho by parents Edwin and Ethel Peterson. She enjoyed her small town childhood with siblings Leona, Daunice, Shirley, Duane, and Karen.
After high school she attended and graduated from Kinman Business University in Spokane, Washington. She worked as a bookkeeper at Central Pre Mix where she met Sherman Dionne. They married in 1955 and shared 54 years together before his passing in 2009.
Sherman and Darlene had three children; Scott, Craig, and Yvonne. In 1965 the family moved to Moscow, Idaho. Darlene was the ultimate homemaker and stayed home to raise her children on a short rural street called “Dave’s Avenue”. The Dionne house was the neighborhood hangout where everyone could enjoy their acreage behind the house playing baseball, riding motorcycles, snowmobiling, and what other mischief kids could come up with.
Darlene enjoyed cooking, baking, knitting, crocheting, camping, gardening, reading, and doting on her children.
The Dionne children have many fond memories of the vacations every summer in the family motorhome.
In 1979 the family moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho where Sherman and Darlene spent over 30 years together in the family home.
Darlene was a strong person and a fighter. In the early 1980’s she was diagnosed with stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma. The family is so grateful that she pulled through and went on to see the birth of her first grandchildren, Emilee and Riley Plank. She was a very caring grandma and a big part of their lives helping shape them into the people they are today.
In addition to Emilee and Riley, she had four other grandchildren; Scott’s children; Colette and Simone; and Craig’s children; Brenan and Carter. Although she did not get to spend as much time with them as they lived out of state, she was always with them in spirit.
Darlene is survived by her children; Scott Dionne and Peishan Shieh (Portland, Oregon), Craig Dionne and Shay Bachman (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Yvonne and Rich Watson (Coeurdalene), one remaining sibling Duane Peterson of Priest River, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Edwin snd Ethel Peterson, siblings Leona Baker, Daunice Baker, Shirley Wylie, and Karen Heffling.
Darlene had relocated back to her hometown of Priest River, Idaho a few years prior to her death. She was able to enjoy her time with her younger sister Shirley and younger brother Duane. The three siblings were known as the “3 musketeers” spending as much time together as they could. Her dear sister Shirley and best friend passed away two years prior. Darlene and Duane continued the family legacy residing together on Old Priest River Road. She enjoyed living her last few years with her younger brother Duane and enjoyed cooking for him. They lived in the country where she enjoyed feeding the deer from the deck of the house.
The people that were blessed to have known Darlene will remember her selfless and caring nature. She will be truly missed.
The family would like to thank the staff at Kootenai Medical Center and The Hospice House in Coeurdalene for the excellent care of Darlene. And, to her niece Liz Barker who helped out tremendously with her care the last couple of years of her life.
Darlene was born and raised in Priest River, Idaho by parents Edwin and Ethel Peterson. She enjoyed her small town childhood with siblings Leona, Daunice, Shirley, Duane, and Karen.
After high school she attended and graduated from Kinman Business University in Spokane, Washington. She worked as a bookkeeper at Central Pre Mix where she met Sherman Dionne. They married in 1955 and shared 54 years together before his passing in 2009.
Sherman and Darlene had three children; Scott, Craig, and Yvonne. In 1965 the family moved to Moscow, Idaho. Darlene was the ultimate homemaker and stayed home to raise her children on a short rural street called “Dave’s Avenue”. The Dionne house was the neighborhood hangout where everyone could enjoy their acreage behind the house playing baseball, riding motorcycles, snowmobiling, and what other mischief kids could come up with.
Darlene enjoyed cooking, baking, knitting, crocheting, camping, gardening, reading, and doting on her children.
The Dionne children have many fond memories of the vacations every summer in the family motorhome.
In 1979 the family moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho where Sherman and Darlene spent over 30 years together in the family home.
Darlene was a strong person and a fighter. In the early 1980’s she was diagnosed with stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma. The family is so grateful that she pulled through and went on to see the birth of her first grandchildren, Emilee and Riley Plank. She was a very caring grandma and a big part of their lives helping shape them into the people they are today.
In addition to Emilee and Riley, she had four other grandchildren; Scott’s children; Colette and Simone; and Craig’s children; Brenan and Carter. Although she did not get to spend as much time with them as they lived out of state, she was always with them in spirit.
Darlene is survived by her children; Scott Dionne and Peishan Shieh (Portland, Oregon), Craig Dionne and Shay Bachman (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Yvonne and Rich Watson (Coeurdalene), one remaining sibling Duane Peterson of Priest River, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Edwin snd Ethel Peterson, siblings Leona Baker, Daunice Baker, Shirley Wylie, and Karen Heffling.
Darlene had relocated back to her hometown of Priest River, Idaho a few years prior to her death. She was able to enjoy her time with her younger sister Shirley and younger brother Duane. The three siblings were known as the “3 musketeers” spending as much time together as they could. Her dear sister Shirley and best friend passed away two years prior. Darlene and Duane continued the family legacy residing together on Old Priest River Road. She enjoyed living her last few years with her younger brother Duane and enjoyed cooking for him. They lived in the country where she enjoyed feeding the deer from the deck of the house.
The people that were blessed to have known Darlene will remember her selfless and caring nature. She will be truly missed.
The family would like to thank the staff at Kootenai Medical Center and The Hospice House in Coeurdalene for the excellent care of Darlene. And, to her niece Liz Barker who helped out tremendously with her care the last couple of years of her life.