Darlene Fern Riggs

Born: Oct 2, 1931, in Salt Lake City Utah

Died: Nov. 25, 2023, at 8:25pm peacefully in Downey, CA

She was born to Ernest Henry Hardy who was 23 years old and married to Fern

Christensen, who was 20 years old. Brother Ernest Jay Hardy was born 6 years

later.

Her brother Jay writes: As she grew older, she went to Polytechnic High School

and after graduating worked for an insurance office until she met Tommy and

decided to get married.

She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on

Aug. 18, 1940. Met Thomas E Counter at a Navy dance in Long Beach, CA and on

June 29, 1952, she & Tommy were married. On April 2, 1953, Debra Darlene was

born, and on Oct. 21, 1958, Pamela Fern was born. Darlene was blessed with 5

Grandchildren: Melanie Dawn Carambia, Tom Paul Carambia, Charles Thomas

Neher, Madison Marion Browning & Katherine Counter Neher and 6 GreatGrandchildren. Rowan, Fenix, Evelyn, Owen, Lila & Gabriel.

Darlene & Tommy were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple on Dec. 19, 1964

Darlene & Tommy loved camping and went often, Tommy had a motorcycle took

quite some time for Darlene to get up the courage to ride it, but after she did, she

enjoyed it some (still scared though). They would take it camping and it would

allow them to go to many places.

She loved going to TV shows, watching them taped, like Glen Cambell, Donnie &

Marie and many more. She went to the Price is Right and even tried out for the

Wheel of Fortune Show, but no luck getting on it. She enjoyed the holidays and

had a family tradition of going out to look at Christmas lights with her family on

Christmas Eve. Santa would magically fill their Christmas Stockings, and Pam has

kept this tradition going with her family. Then there was the “Rose Parade” in

Pasadena, CA; year after year starting around 1960. Going early the day before to

get a good spot, sometime 4-5 days before. Then freezing all night sleeping on

the street until they bought a motorhome. They’d enjoy the parade on New Years

Day Celebrations. They would invite family & friends to join them, sometimes

they’d have up to 50 people in their group.

Darlene had many callings in her church, in Primary, Relief Society & Young

Women. She taught by example how to be a “GREAT” visiting teacher as she was

always there for her sisters and enjoyed baking things to take to them often.

She & Tommy enjoyed going to the Temple and went often. Tommy passed away

on Jan 21, 1991.

Charles (Grandson)’s fond memory is his grandma would snort when she laughed

and never bending at the knees, she’d end up with her rump roast in the air. He

remembers one time when he was at her home she came out in her robe, and it

looked like she had nothing underneath. She proceeded to say “Look Charles

while opening her robe” Charles was nervous as to what he’d see so turned his

head. When he did look, she had on a shirt he had painted for her when he was

young. We all had a good laugh as to how she showed him the shirt.

Madison (Granddaughter) found memory is going to her grandma’s home for the

holidays and on Easter she’d always have an easter rabbit that she would hide for

each grandchild with money in it. This is such a great memory for Madison that

she has found the exact rabbits online and has bought them, so she can keep the

tradition going with Rowan. When Madison got older, she took line dancing

lessons with her mom & Grandma. Madison, Katherine & Pam would go to the

Bellflower Street Fairs with her grandma & Marty and would always get up and

dance. One big thing that Madison will always remember is that no matter how

big or small the milestone was her grandma would show up and was there to

support them. Madison's husband (Jeffery) appreciated how she always

remembered him and felt that she truly loved him. When Madison stopped going

to church her grandma would send conference talks that she felt would help her

in her life., which resulted in Madison going back to church & receiving her

Temple Endowments and being able to be sealed to her husband, son Rowan &

family.

Kim Riggs (Marty Daughter) says: I met Darlene when I was 18 playing UNO in her

family room, later my parents became friends with Darlene & Tommy. My Dad

(Marty) would take his radio to Tommy at the hospital where he was being

treated for cancer so he could listen to the Pilots talk to the tower at the Long

Beach Airport. Both were obsessed with aviation. After Tommy passed away, and

my mom died. Darlene & my dad (Marty) became “Friends in the Gospel” as my

dad would say. My Dad would take Darlene and all her single lady friends to all

sorts of church activities. Marty finally proposed to Darlene, and they were

married in the Los Angeles Temple on March 24, 2001. After Darlene married

Marty, she inherited 3 Bonus Children, 11 Bonus Grandkids with spouses & 17

bonus Great-Grandchildren with one more on the way. Darlene was the best

“Grandma Darlene” to my kids & grandkids (Per Kim) she’d come to all the things

in their lives. I’m grateful for her and the love she shared with me and my family.

Darlene loved “all” of her grandkids. She was faithful in sending Birthday cards

every year and Christmas Gifts. She was so concerned when she had so many,

how was I going to be able to continue to send gifts, but she always did even if it

was just money in a card.

From Pam: Mom was very helpful to me during my divorce. My girls & I moved in

with her for seven months, she was adamant on it only being 7 months and no

longer. During this time, she would take the girls to school and pick them up for

me as I had 2 jobs. She helped with homework, feeding them, taking them to

church activities and many more things. Every time my kids had a Dance Recital,

in a school play or church event she was there to support them.

Marty & Darlene served a service mission at the Institute of Religion at Cerritos

College. They really loved & enjoyed Being around the college kids.

From a close family friend, Brian Myrick wrote: Darlene & Marty were a

tremendous wealth of support, kindness and love in my formative years in the

church.as I was learning the gospel being a convert. As I attended the Cerritos

Institute of Religion, I saw them regularly and spoke to them for hours on end.

Their friendship was better than that of the other students. They surprised me

the day I received my endowments in the Los Angeles Temple. It was like being

greeted by Heavenly Friends at the veil of the Lord on what felt like a lonely day

to me.

Darlene lived a long eventful and loving life blessed with the Love of family &

friends. She was a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, cousin & friend Daughter of

our Heavenly Father.