Dahl leaving clerk and recorder office March 31

Hill County’s clerk and recorder is leaving her position nine months early, moving to the eastern edge of Montana to be with her husband.

“I have enjoyed my 13½ years working for and serving the citizens of Hill County, the last four of which have been as the clerk and recorder,” Darla Dahl told the Havre Daily News. “It is now time for our family to be together again. My husband, Shawn, is from Sidney and has been back there working for the past two-and-a-half years.”

Hill County Commission Chair Mike Wendland said Monday the commission will appoint Deputy Clerk and Recorder Susan Armstrong, the only person to file as a candidate for the position in this year’s election, to take Dahl’s place.

Wendland said the county officials are sorry to see Dahl go, but understand the need to bring the family together in the same town.

“Darla’s done a good job for us here,” he said.

Armstrong, who has worked in the office for 29 years, including as deputy clerk and recorder since 2008, said she and her deputies, Stefnie Redding and Kaci Hipple, will be sworn in at the end of the month when Dahl’s resignation takes effect.

Dahl said she is taking a job with XTO Energy in Sidney, adding that her 9-year-old son is looking forward to seeing more of his father and his extended family there.

Dahl’s leaving the clerk and recorder position mirrors her taking the job in 2010. In that year, Dahl was the only candidate for the position in that election when Clerk and Recorder Diane Mellem resigned before the end of her term.

The Hill County Commission appointed Dahl to finish out the term, then Dahl took office in 2011 as the winner of the election.