Darleene Edith Hemmerling was born on January 25, 1941, in San Bernardino, California, the youngest daughter of Forrest and Edith Harris. Her arrival into the world was both unexpected and memorable. At forty-nine, her mother had managed to conceal her pregnancy so well that even at Christmas—just thirty-one days before Darleene's birth—no one suspected a thing. Family stories tell of Grandma Harris's corset hiding her growing secret and the astonishment that followed when Darleene was finally born.

Darleene was raised in Oro Grande, California, where she enjoyed a warm and carefree childhood. As the youngest, she was surrounded not only by her remaining sister at home but by numerous nieces and nephews who became her constant companions. She was spirited, unreserved, and full of life, often seen running barefoot and in her underwear through the California farmstead desert, with her daddy teasing that she needed a wheelbarrow to cart around "that big belly of hers."

On December 1, 2025, Darleene was welcomed into heaven by her six siblings—Vernon Harris, Glenn Harris, Ralph Harris, Genevieve Blenkhorn, Nellie May Harris, and Patricia Kauffman. Throughout her life, she often said that being the youngest was the hardest burden on this side of heaven, but would be the sweetest reunion on the other.

The defining moment of Darleene's life came when she and her sister Pat were picked up for Sunday school by Clyde Davis. It was in his class that she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The moment of her salvation was so significant to her that, upon returning home, she insisted that her mother stop preparing dinner to write down the date. It was this encounter with Jesus that formed the foundation of Darleene's life, and her faith and testimony in God grew stronger as she continued to trust in Him throughout her lifetime.

Darleene graduated from Victorville High School in 1959 and went on to earn an associate degree in accounting from San Bernardino Community College, and later completed a Bachelor's degree in Christian Education from L.I.F.E. Bible College in Los Angeles.

In July 1963, at a summer church camp in Turtle Lake, Darleene met a young man from Saskatchewan, Canada—Iver Hemmerling. The two quickly fell in love. Iver spent two months in California the following winter, and by the end of that visit, they were engaged. When Iver announced their engagement to her parents, Forrest responded, "I was afraid that was going to happen!"—not with disapproval, but with the bittersweet realization that his youngest daughter would soon be moving to Canada. Darleene and Iver were married on June 27, 1964, and she embraced her new life with courage, joy, and deep love for her husband. Together they farmed in Saskatchewan for more than three decades and built their family of four children: Michele Dawn born in 1965, Cole Quinton in 1968, Kyle Dion in 1974, and Twyla Renee in 1976.

Throughout their years in Canada, Darleene worked as the senior bookkeeper at the Battlefords Union Hospital, as a bookkeeper for the ESSO gas station and restaurant in Wilkie, and later at Elias Scales and Manufacturing in North Battleford. Yet her greatest passion was children's ministry. She served faithfully in both Foursquare and Assembly of God churches in Cando, Wilkie, and North Battleford. Long before the age of Pinterest or Google, Darleene's creativity flourished through object lessons, western-themed Sunday school round-ups, winter festivals, and Christmas plays she wrote and produced. This creativity and passion brought many adults and children through the church doors who had never been there before, and it was through this ministry that countless lives were transformed, and many came to know Christ.

When their farming chapter came to a close, Darleene and Iver embarked on a new journey, moving to Ada, Oklahoma, where they continued ranching together. Wherever life took her, Darleene met every challenge and blessing with the same steadfast spirit—anchored in faith, guided by love, and unwavering in her trust in God.

Darleene was known for her sense of adventure and fun. She created treasured memories with her grandchildren through picnics, roller skating, bowling, zoo trips, and museum visits—anywhere she could bring joy and make moments that would last. Game nights were filled with laughter and the occasional mystery when cards or board pieces were later found tucked under her chair. She delighted in simple pleasures, and the Walls Bargain Store will forever miss one of its most frequent customers, especially when treasures could be found for twenty-five cents, needed or not.

Her legacy is beautifully reflected in the family she cherished: four children shaped by her example, thirteen grandchildren who adored her, and five great-grandchildren already blessed by the story she began. She lived a life marked by generosity, unwavering faith, joy, and boundless love. Her servant's heart, her creativity, and her deep devotion to her family continue to ripple through the generations.

Darleene is survived by her beloved husband, Iver Hemmerling; her children and their spouses, Elmer Isaac, Cole and Faith Hemmerling, Kyle and Trina Hemmerling, and Twyla and Chris Lambe; her grandchildren, Shayleen Saravia (Israel), Trislyn Herrick (Daniel), Taisley Bani (Amear), Taegen Isaac (Aliya), Keegan Isaac, Kaneesha Hemmerling (Spencer McNamara), Ketrin Hemmerling, Kade Hemmerling, Keira Hemmerling, Tinsley Hemmerling, Tayonna Lambe, Keyleia Lambe, and Brickston Lambe; and her great-grandchildren, Davin Herrick, Sienna Herrick, Pedro Saravia, Noah Bani, and Elias Bani. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Michele Isaac.

Darleene lived a life marked by love, faith, and joy, and she often reminded her family not to mourn her passing but to celebrate the gift of knowing she is now in heaven. While we rejoice that she is reunited with her daughter, Michele, restored in her new heavenly body, and resting in the arms of her Savior, it is impossible not to feel the profound loss of a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and beloved friend who touched our lives in countless ways. We will miss her laughter, her guidance, her companionship, and her unwavering love. Though our hearts ache, we hold onto the hope of seeing her again. Love and miss you, Mom.

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home in McAlester. Services will be 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at Lakewood Christian Church in McAlester with Pastor Paul Vanderveer officiating. Burial will follow at Francis Cedar Grove Cemetery in Francis, Oklahoma. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Ketrin Hemmerling, Taegen Isaac, Keegan Isaac, Kade Hemmerling, Brickston Lambe, and Honorary Grandson, Derek West.

Memorial Contributions can be given to:

"The missionaries in Darleene's family to the Middle East"

Give by mail: TEAM, PO Box 1683 Carl Stream, IL 60132-1683

Give by Phone: 800.343.3144

Give Online: United States: give.team.org/saraivas

Canada: give.ca.team.org/Saraivas