April 30, 1949-Oct. 23, 2008
Darrell Fortner, 59, of Mandaree, died at the Fargo V.A. Clinic on Oct. 23, 2008. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 at Water Chief Hall in Mandaree. The Rev. Randy Keehn and The Rev. Juanita Helphrey will officiate and interment will follow at Independence Cemetery in Mandaree. Friends may send the family condolences online at www.fulkersons.com.
Darrell Fortner was born April 30, 1949, to Ted and Mabel (Haadem) Fortner in Bismarck. He lived in Dawson until the family moved to Montana in 1957. Darrell attended school in Anaconda, Mont., and graduated from Anaconda Senior High in 1968.
On June 13, 1969, Darrell joined the Army and was honorably discharged on Jan. 17, 1972. While serving in Vietnam, he earned the National Defense Service Metal, the Vietnam Campaign Metal w/60, Army Accommodation Metal, One Overseas Bar, the Bronze Star Metal, Air Metal with V Device, Air Metal with Valor Device and Sharp Shooter. Darrell worked various manual labor jobs, such as rig hand and State Roads Department. Darrell met Dinah Black Hawk in 1985 and they were married at a later date. Darrell and Dinah adopted Sierra Little Swallow when she was six months old.
Darrell is survived by wife, Dinah; stepson, Kip (Delta) Black Hawk; and adopted daughter Sierra Little Swallow, all of Mandaree; sisters, Mavis Fortner-Anaconda, Mont., Kathy (Daryl Briese) Fortner of Bismarck; brothers, Dennis Fortner of Anaconda, Mont., Roger (Mary Jo) Fortner of Anaconda, Mont., Larry (Cindy) Fortner of Anaconda, Mont., Melvin (Cathy) Fortner of Hazelton; sisters-in-law, Alvena Fortner of Anaconda, Mont., Ruth Fortner of Anaconda, Mont., and Melvina Fredericks of Mandaree, FayAnn (Lary) Moberg of Keene, Judy Black Hawk of New Town, JoAnn (Randy) Keehn of Williston; brother-in-law, Rudolph Sanders of Mandaree; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Darrell was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Glen Fortner; and several aunts and uncles.
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