Darleen E. Nordhagen

Darleen Effie (Isakson) Nordhagen of Glasgow, Mont., formerly of Opheim and Billings, Mont., age 84, passed away on June 24, 2024, at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow.

A memorial/celebration of Darleen's life has been set for Tuesday, July 23, at 11 a.m., at Opheim Community Church in Opheim.

Darleen was born in Glasgow on Sept. 27, 1939, to Melvin and Vivian Vick Isakson, of Opheim. She spent her childhood years on the family farm north of Opheim and graduated from Opheim High School in 1957. She was employed as a nurse's aide at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital from 1957 through 1960.

She married Darrell Phillip Nordhagen on Aug. 15, 1959, in Fairview, Mont. They honeymooned in Yellowstone Park, experiencing, first-hand, the famous earthquake that occurred there at that time. They lived in Glasgow for two years, moved to Plentywood, Mont., for two years, then moved back to the farm that she was raised on in Opheim in January 1965. In 1989, Darleen and Darrell retired and moved to Billings.

Darleen was a 4-H leader for a number of years, co-chaired the North Valley County History Book committee, and served on the Opheim Farmers Union Oil Co-op Board and the Valley County Fair Board. She was a proud member of the Opheim American Legion Auxiliary and was President of the Montana American Legion Auxiliary in 1993, served on Girls State Committee where she was a director for two years. She also served on the ALA Girls Nation committee for five years. She co-chaired the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the town of Opheim. She was instrumental in helping to get the North Valley Ambulance Service started and became a registered EMT, working and managing the ambulance service in Opheim for 10 years. She was a baptized and confirmed member of the Community of Christ Church.

Darleen was preceded in death by her husband Darrell of 60 years; parents Melvin and Vivian Isakson; one sister, Carrol Isakson; foster brother Chet Munger; brothers-in-laws Steven Ziskin, Walt Devoy and Thomas Nordhagen; sisters-in-law Marie Ann Nordhagen and Delores Nordhagen; and grandson Michael Church Nordhagen.

Survivors include her three daughters and one son, Darla (Jeff) Larson, of Glasgow/Opheim, Darlis Nordhagen, of Glasgow, Darcie (Tim) Knight, of Keller, Texas, and Daren (Shelby) Nordhagen, of Elgin, Ariz .; eight grandchildren Kayla Larson, Jayme (Mark) Iddins, Bryan (Rachel) Larson, Azia Smith, Dayne Smith, Reeve Smith, Braden Knight and William Knight; her sisters Joyce Devoy, of Glendive, Mont., and Marlis Ziskin, of Albuquerque, N.M .; sister-in-law Arlee (Dick) Chamblin, of Mesa, Ariz .; six great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.