Darlene M. Harpole 78 longtime St. Maries and Calder, ID resident died Sept. 27, 2011 at her home following an extended illness. She was born June 5, 1933 to Alfred and Corma Warden Andersen at Eugene, OR. She grew up at Harrisburg, OR where she was raised by her grandparents Pearl and Clarence Warden and she attended school there as well as Vaughn, OR. She married Charlie Harpole April 28, 1951 at Elmira, OR. They made their home at Veneta, OR where their four children were born. The family moved to Calder, ID in 1960. She was a homemaker and raised her family there. She worked as "Camp Cook" on Gold Creek in the St. Joe National Forest in two little camp trailers where her husband worked as a logger and she took care of her four children at the same time. Her husband owned C. & D. Cedar Co. at Calder and she was the bookkeeper for the business. They operated it for 14 years and it was later purchased by Chuck Peterson. In 1980, they built their home at Highland Springs and moved to St. Maries. They began Highland Springs Nursery and operated the business for 8 years until it was destroyed by the flood of 1996. Her daughter Donna said " I have watched you be strong and loving, traits that have made me the woman I am today." She went on to add " I am not saying goodbye, because you will forever live in my heart and am looking forward to when we get together again". Daughter Laura remembers " Mom got up every morning before dad and made his breakfast and got him off to work. Because of her example, I applied this to my marriage and have enjoyed my mornings with my husband because of her example." She goes on to say " I am so thankful that Mom was always at home for us. She took such great care of us all". Darlene enjoyed canning, crocheting, sewing and spending time entertaining her friends and family. She loved to decorate and bake for the holidays and passed on her joy to her children. She is survived by her husband at the family home. Also surviving are her son and daughter-in-law Charlie and Mary Jo Harpole of St. Maries, Daughter Judy Dalton of Coeur d' Alene and Daughters and sons-in-law Donna and Chris Houston of Pacific Grove, CA and Laura and Rusty Cordle of Sagle, ID. Also surviving are brothers Robert and Clarence Andersen both of Port Orchard, WA, 20 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. She was preceded in death by great grandchild Tyler Cordle. At her request, no services will be held. Visit her online memorial and sign her guest book at www.hodgefuneralhome.com
