Darlene J. (Udelhoven) Butson, age 86, took her final breath as she was sleeping peacefully on Sunday March 3, 2019. Darlene went to join her husband of 70 plus years in the next (eternal) phase of their lives. Her husband Jim, who was her one and only love, preceded her on May 8, 2018. The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 8, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Melby Funeral Home in Platteville. Rev. Jeff Suits will officiate. Burial will be held at the Whig Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Melby Funeral Home, before the services. Memorials may be made to the Darlene Butson Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Darlene was born on April 28, 1932 at home in Newton, IA, the oldest child of Wilson and Cecil Udelhoven. She lived in the Platteville area most of her life, even during the toughest years of their young married lives, when hard times forced Jim to take a job in Chicago and Darlene remained on their farm in Ellenboro township tending the farm and taking care of five of their seven children. The youngest being just a baby at the time.

Darlene and Jim proudly raised seven children together, Marge (Garry) Stluka and Tom (Nancy) Butson of Platteville, WI.; Vicky Gile of Mineral Point, WI.; Duane (Diana) Butson of Prairie du Chien, WI.; Lorie (Ed) Leibfried of Platteville, WI.; Tami (Bob) Bredeson of Merrimac, Wi; and their beloved son Alan (Tracy) Butson, who they lost in an accident in 2005. Along with the seven children, they were blessed with twenty-one grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Darlene was a traditional farm wife and mother. When she was needed, she was there. They made a decision early in their lives that with a large family, it would be best if Darlene was a stay-at-home, mother, who was in charge of making sure the farm ran smoothly while Jim was bringing in some outside money to help raise the seven children and pay for the farm. Mom did everything your typical farm wife would do. She was an excellent cook and her skills were tested on a daily basis, as she prepared meals for dad, the kids and the hired help that came and went over the years. She cooked, packed and delivered many a meals to the farmers out in the field raking, plowing, baling hay, etc. She ran for parts wherever the road may take her and she milked more cows than you could count. In later years, when dad had retired, she used her cooking skills to help her youngest daughter Tami, at the restaurant she owned in Mineral Point.

Darlene loved whatever Jim loved. It seemed as though doing the things that Jim liked, was what made her the happiest. Jim loved water skiing, whereas Darlene hardly set foot in the water, but together, it was a family activity they enjoyed. They both loved playing cards and had been members of card clubs in their younger years. They loved being able to get away on vacations, camping trips, winters in Texas and just day trips in general. It was a great joy in their lives when they were able to take some of their younger grandchildren on camping trips and overnight hotel stays after they slowed down on the farm. They were able to travel to Hawaii on three different trips, but the trip of their lifetime was when they purchased a small motor home and made the trek to Alaska, where they spent two months, taking in the beautiful sights.

Darlene had many hobbies over the years, including sewing, square dancing and bowling on a women's league. She was an active member of Farm Bureau and Darlene and Jim were “crowned” Mr. and Mrs. Farm Bureau one year. Darlene loved her God and her church and in recent years shared their time between the Free Methodist Church in Platteville and the Whig United Methodist Church of Platteville. But, if they were traveling, they did not hesitate to find another church along the way that welcomed them through their doors. Darlene was known over the years for the delicious pies that she would bring to the annual church bazaar at the Whig Church as well as their Ice Cream Social. When the arthritis in her hands forced her to give this up, there was an empty pie tray that just wasn't quite the same without Darlene's “touch”.

Darlene is survived by the children, their spouses and family listed above, as well as, her brother, Gerald (Butch) Udelhoven, sister-in-law, Jacque Udelhoven; and youngest sister, Donna Watters. She is also survived by some very special first cousins that played a large part of Darlene's life. They were friends to the end. Besides Jim and their son Alan, Darlene was also predeceased by her parents, Wilson and Cecil Udelhoven; her father and mother in law, Thomas and Ethel Mae Butson; and her brother, Jerry Udelhoven.

Darlene Butson

April 28, 1932 - March 03, 2019

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