Darlene Belgarde, 60, died the morning of Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls of lung cancer.
Her wake service was scheduled for Monday at the Rocky Boy Lutheran Church with her funeral service this morning also at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. Her burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Darlene was born July 4, 1947, in Rocky Boy to Tom and Maggie (Coffee) Arkinson. She was raised and educated in Rocky Boy, attending Parker School, and later attending school in Havre. She met Butch Deschamps and to this union two children were born; the couple later separated. Darlene married Gilbert Belgarde in 1967 at Las Vegas, Nev.; to this union eight children were born. In her earlier years, Darlene worked at picking potatoes and bucking bails. After she and Gilbert were married they moved to Anaconda, and she worked various jobs there. Later the family moved back to Rocky Boy where Darlene worked as a teacher’s aide at Rocky Boy Elementary Schools and later as a bi-lingual teacher at the Head Start for many years. Darlene then remained home and worked as a homemaker but was known for her excellent and creative Moss Bags that she made. Darlene was a very kind and giving person who never held a grudge toward anyone. Her hobbies include playing bingo and poker machines, sewing, grandchildren, shopping for many hours, and visiting her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gilbert Belgarde in August 2006; one daughter, Yvette Belgarde, in 1975; brother, Edward Arkinson, and sisters, Merceline and Donna Arkinson. Darlene is survived by her eleven children, Lavidia Belgarde of Spokane, Wash., Joseph (Debbie) Arkinson of Rocky Boy, Jewel (Thomas) Deschamps-Gopher of Great Falls, Gilberta (Scott Bradley) Belgarde of Havre, Lana (Willy) Saddler of Box Elder; Luwanna Herron of Box Elder, Veronica Skidmore (Willie Joe) of Havre, Alex (Jayme) Belgarde of Rocky Boy, Billy Jean (Randy Chandler) Louie of Rocky Boy, Michael Belgarde of Box Elder and Lasane Chandler of Rocky Boy; brother, Earl (Elaine) Arkinson of Rocky Boy; sisters, Pauline (Floyd) Old Bull of Rocky Boy, Marlene (Larry) Arkinson of Rocky Boy and Arlene (Robert) Arkinson of Rocky Boy; adopted sisters Pearl Whitford, Wilma LaMere and Margaret BernardnDenny, all of Rocky Boy; adopted children, Curtis Yazzie of St. Ignatius, Thomas Limberhand of Rocky Boy, Virgil, Pam, June, Hail and Yvette Deschamps, all of Hobbema Alberta, Canada; 34 grandchildren, and four greatgrandchildren Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.
