Darlene Miller
Darlene Miller, 89 of Newcastle, passed away Wednesday, June 2, 2022. Darlene Joyce Rinkenberger was born December 22, 1932, in Lexington, Illinois, the fourth of seven children born to Benjamin and Minnie (Wenger) Rinkenberger.
She was raised in Strawn where she began school, and graduated from Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School, with the first class to do so. Darlene attended business school, and earned an Associates Degree.
On the advice of her uncle, she moved to Austin, Texas, seeking work. It was here that she met a young serviceman named Joe Dolison Miller. They were the perfect couple, and on June 7, 1953, Darlene married Joe in Fairbury, Illinois.
They made their home in Oklahoma City, where together they raised son Mike and daughter Carmen.
Darlene worked in the insurance industry as a secretary, and settled in at Oklahoma Farmers Union as a claims supervisor, retiring after 18 years of service.
She worked tirelessly for her family, while caring for her daughter Carmen, who was born with cystic fibrosis. She constantly gave support and help to Joe while he would work all day running heavy equipment, then come home to break and train quarter horses, farm and raise cattle. She also kept up with Mike’s baseball, basketball and Rodeo events.
She was a member of the Sooner Saddle Club and the Newcastle Senior Citizens. She loved horses, rodeo, wagon trains, draft horse events, music and Thunder Basketball.
She was never happier than the day she became a grandmother to Joshua, and started all over again, supporting him in his baseball and basketball, from grade school through high school graduation.
She was a woman of great faith, and longtime member of the Newcastle Christian Church. Darlene was a wonderful partner for Joe for nearly 69 years, the best mother and grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be dearly missed!
She was preceded in death by: her daughter Carmen Kay Miller; parents Benjamin and Minnie Rinkenberger, and brothers Dewayne, Don, Ken and Bob.
Darlene is survived by: her husband Joe Miller; son, Mike Miller and wife Kelly of Newcastle; grandson Joshua Miller and wife Lacey Lett-Miller of Oklahoma City; sister Barbara Jean Lund and husband Kenneth of Tucson, Arizona; brother Jack Rinkenberger and wife Carolyn of Fairbury, Illinois; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services were 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Newcastle Christian Church. Interment followed at 3:30 p.m. at Mound Valley Cemetery in Thomas. Send online condolences @ www.wilsonlittle.com.