Darlene Obr, a longtime resident of Mobridge, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2010, at Mobridge Regional Hospital, after a short illness. She was 83 years old and had lived in Mobridge for 49 years, all of them on Third Avenue East.

Darlene Schaffer was born in 1927 on a farm near Dixon, S.D., in Gregory County. Her parents, Sanford and Margaret Schaffer, had a series of farms during her childhood. The Great Depression and WWII would continue to have a strong hold on her outlook for the rest of her life.

After graduating from Burke High School in 1945, she attended Yankton College, and then became a teacher in a one-room country school.

After her marriage to Joe Obr, she lived in Kimball where her husband worked in the construction industry. The Obr family moved to Mobridge in 1962, where she made her home until her death.

Education continued to be important to Darlene. All three of her children graduated from Mobridge High School and went on to receive university and post-graduate degrees.

Darlene had an independent outlook, and a life that revolved around her home. She took a keen interest in world affairs and was always ready to talk about world events. She also enjoyed the A.H. Brown Public Library.

She is survived by her three children: Warren of Fourquex, France; Carla of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; and Clark of Iowa City, Iowa. She is also survived by her two sisters, JoAnn Harman of Omaha, Neb., and Geraldine Williams of Phoenix, Ariz., as well as six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Joe, and her twin brother, Dwayne.

A memorial service will be held in late spring and she will be interred next to her husband in the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge is in charge of the services.