Darlene Ann Warren Stoltz, 88, passed away Friday, March 20, 2026, with her loved ones by her side. Darlene was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on September 20, 1937, to Arthur and Viola Jo Warren. She was a blonde haired, blue-eyed beauty all her life. Her father worked on the oil rigs in South Carolina, before the family settled in Redondo Beach, California. She graduated from Mira Costa High School in California in 1955. Shortly after, she acquired a receptionist position at Hughes Aircraft where she met her charming husband, Hadleigh Stoltz. They were married in June 1958, bought a home in Hacienda Heights, California, and five years later they had their only child, Brenda Stoltz.

In 1971 the family of three moved to West Yellowstone, Montana to help Hadleigh’s parents with the Pioneer Motel. After selling the motel, the Stoltz family moved to Sheridan (Laurin), Montana, where Darlene commuted daily to obtain her Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree from Western Montana College in Dillon, graduating in 1979.

After Hadleigh and Darlene’s divorce in 1981, Darlene received her first teaching position in Lima, Montana where she taught third and fourth grade for three years. During this time, Darlene was tested by the chilly Montana weather while living in a trailer house which she rented. In the freezing cold winter, she would use her hair dryer to get underneath the trailer to unfreeze the pipes. One tough woman!

Mom moved to Missoula in 1985 and taught fourth grade in Frenchtown for 22 years before she retired. She loved her teaching friends whom she spent many days carpooling and later playing pinocle with during retirement. Darlene was a huge Griz football fan and had season tickets for over thirty years. Sun, rain, or snow wouldn’t keep her from attending Griz games. By herself, she even flew to Chattanooga, Tennessee to watch a championship game.

Darlene spent her last days suffering from many health conditions. She lived in an Assisted Living facility in Helena for two years to be closer to her family. Darlene cherished her life in Missoula and would have caught the first bus back home.

Darlene was a fighter which was evident all the way to the end. She was a smart, independent, and a strong-willed woman who will be deeply missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her daughter, Brenda Stoltz; her grandsons, Jeffrey Stoltz and Andrew Stoltz; her granddaughter, Mackie and husband, Taustin Parvinen; and great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Maximo, all residing in Helena. She is also survived by her brother Ron and wife, Robin Warren, and their sons, Douglas and Jeremy of Lakewood, Colorado.

A special thank you to her hospice providers at Headwaters and the assisted living caregivers that provided her with love during her ending battle.

Join the family for a funeral service on Friday, March 27, 2026, 11:00 AM, at the Sunset Memorial Gardens at 7405 Mullan Road, Missoula, MT 59808. A burial and reception will follow the service.

Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.

“The world was a better place with you in it, Mom! Thank you for my life and all the fabulous memories I have with you ~ your biggest fan, Brenda.”