Darleen Hamilton

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Darleen Ann Hamilton, 70, of Mountain Home, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014, at a Mountain Home care center.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Inurnment will follow at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise at 3 p.m. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Darleen was born on March 29, 1944, in Chippewa Falls, Wis., to Gordon and Arlene (Enger) Walters.

Darleen's lifelong passion was caring for others. Starting as a candy striper while earning a nursing degree at Montana State University, she married the love of her life, John Hamilton, and cherished 42 years of a devoted and loving relationship.

During John's service in the Army and Air Force, John and Darleen were stationed in Germany. Full of love but unable to have children of their own, they opened their hearts and home to Eric, a 2-year-old orphan. Darleen enjoyed her new role as a mother, and later while stationed in California, they found Lindy, a beautiful little girl, to complete the family. Later in life, they adopted William, Lindy's son. Darleen welcomed all her grandchildren by birth or marriage into her family and home.

Upon returning stateside, Darleen promptly returned to nursing. When the family moved to Mountain Home, Darleen found a fulfilling career at Saint Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise, where she remained until retiring after 27 years of service. She served as the night charge nurse in the emergency department for 20 years, mentoring numerous staff. Her colleagues admired her high standards and her philosophy that the patient comes first. Leaders throughout the hospital sought out her knowledge and practice of the policies and procedures of St. Luke's. At retirement, she served as the clinical supervisor of the emergency department.

Darleen volunteered much of her free time for such causes as the Girl Scouts, the Special Olympics Idaho, educational programs at West Elementary, and loved contributing to the First Congregational Church's charities and programs.

Darleen was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Arlene Walters, and her husband, John Hamilton.

She is survived by sisters Beverly Bonner and Carolyn Huntsinger, brothers Wayne and Mark Walters, her son, Eric Hamilton, and his wife, Laura, her daughter, Lindy Hamilton, and nine grandchildren.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the First Congregational Church, 515 E. 15 North St., Mountain Home, Idaho 83647.