To view the funeral service, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmDb7phFX30

She was born March 15, 1931, the eighth of twelve children, in Kenaston, to Peter and Rose (Meyer) Ackerman.  She attended St. Agnes Catholic School and graduated for Kenmare High School in 1950.  She worked at Kenmare Laundry.
Darlene married James Bartuska on December 1, 1950 at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare, by Fr. Ruemenapp.  From this union, they had six children.
The family moved to Mohall in 1968 where James worked for MDU.  They were married just 35 years before James died in 1986.  Darlene was a stay-at-home mom until Jim's passing.  Darlene worked as a dishwasher for Mohall Public Schools for 20 years, until she retired in 2011 at the age of 80.
Nine years after Jim died, she met Milt Engebretson; for 20 years, they spent time together, camping, fishing, dancing or just going for drives.  Their drives together were very special to mom and we kids got the benefit of his laughter.
Darlene was a member of St. Jerome Catholic Church, Mohall, the Christian Mothers, and the American Legion Auxiliary.  She and Jim had a garden; she canned everything from chicken, to horseradish, fish and all veggies.  We always said, "If there was a storm, we could live in the basement off her canned goods for a year."  She always made bread, buns and homemade cookies.  She hosted Christmas Eve for her children and grandchildren until she entered the nursing home in August of 2020.  She cooked many firemen's meals, many roasters of meatballs and Swiss steak.  Darlene was crafty; she crocheted, sewed clothes and knitted.  Plastic canvas and ceramics kept her busy with many projects.
Family: children, Linda (Stan) Savelkoul, Lansford, Deborah (Gary) Ledoux, Antler, Cameron (Cindy) Bartuska, Kenmare, Michele (Rick) Helming, Mohall, Michael (Carla) Bartuska, Minot; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; brother, LeRoy (Judy Lee) Ackerman, Devils Lake; sisters-in-law, Sally Ackerman, Bismarck, and Eleanor Ackerman, Kenmare; numerous nieces and nephews; special friends, Dora Kelly and Diane D. Witteman.
Darlene was preceded in death by: her husband, James Bartuska; son, Timothy Bartuska; grandson, Catlin Bartuska; parents, Peter and Rose Ackerman; brothers, Jerome, Lawrence, Alvin, Maurice, James and Peter Ackerman; and sisters, Evelyn, Rachel, Marilyn and Shirley; and father- and mother-in-law, John and Rose Bartuska.
Funeral: 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at St. Jerome Catholic Church, Mohall.  Masks are required for the service.  A link to a video of the service will be placed on her online obituary after the service.
Burial: St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery, Kenmare.
Visitation: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at Brose Funeral Home, Mohall.  Friends may also sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com.
Memorials: Memorials preferred to the Mohall Ambulance, Mohall Fire Department or Dakota Hope Clinic.
(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)