Darlene McCue, age 90, of Buffalo, WY

Darlene “Swede” LuEtta (Curtis) McCue was born on July 24, 1934, in Glasgow, MT, to Robert Bruce Curtis and Etta Mae “Micky” (Eby) Curtis. Darlene was recently diagnosed with ocular uveal melanoma with metastasis to her liver. However, Darlene’s passing on Monday, May 12, 2025, was due to an unfortunate incident at Campbell County Health, Gillette, Wyoming.
“I got the nickname “Swede” from my Daddy. When my hair came in white, he called me his little Swede, and it’s been Swede ever since.” “Some people call me ‘Darlene’ and some call me ‘Swede.’” From living in a dugout in the area of Flat Creek, MT, she began school in a one-room schoolhouse. At age 11, Darlene’s Daddy, while being contracted by the US Government to minimize the wolf population, the pilot and Daddy (the gunner), lost their lives to an unfortunate plane crash. Darlene and sister Carol were taken out of school for a plane ride – not any ole plane ride. They made sure they had a good time with dives and rolls, throwing toilet paper out the window to see how many times the pilot could cut the paper with the wing before it hit the ground, all in an effort to make sure the girls were not afraid of flying after the crash.
Their Mother rented a house for the girls in Jordan, so they could attend their freshman year of high school. Occasionally, they were able to go back home for the weekend or when someone could take them. Living on onion and mayo sandwiches, they finally convinced their mother into letting them live in the school dorm, where they resided throughout their remaining high school years. Losing their Daddy at such a young age, the children worked for neighbors or relatives to make ends meet or working in exchange for food or animals. Their pets were not your usual but it was not uncommon to adopt an orphaned bobcat or coyote pup as their pet.
Darlene graduated high school in 1953, Garfield County High School, Jordan, MT. She then moved to Billings, MT, and worked in photography until July 4, 1954.
Her dream was to marry a cowboy and live on a ranch and raise their own crops and livestock. On that Independence Day, while attending a wedding and then on to attend the Black Hills Roundup Rodeo, Belle Fourche, SD, she met her soon-to-be husband, Robert A. McCue. Short and sweet romance, they were married in Gillette, WY, on September 4, 1954. In 1961, they were blessed with a little boy, Robert Roland McCue. Shortly thereafter, Darlene lost her mother at an early age, due to ocular uveal melanoma and liver cancer. In 1967, they added a little girl, Catherine Nadine, and then in December 1968, a little girl arrived for Christmas, Debra Jean.
Following their union in 1954 and Robert’s service in the United Sates Marines, during the Korean War, Darlene and Robert worked for Robert’s father for six years, until they purchased their own ranch, mostly irrigated, at Leiter, WY. They were busy with farming, irrigating, raising cattle, sheep, horses. Additionally, they made the daily drive to also work the ranch of Robert’s father at Middle Prong, near Arvada, WY. They lived on their ranch at Leiter, WY, for 46 years, until Robert’s failing health. In 2000, they sold the ranch and bought a small acreage just at the base of the Big Horn Mountains, west of Buffalo, WY. Robert passed away in 2007. Darlene kept busy working at different places, including Photo Finish and H&R Block. It was then a friend talked about going to The Occidental Hotel & Saloon on Thursday nights where musicians came from all over to jam. Darlene learned that the jammers played for free, so she started baking cookies (90) weekly, only missing if she were out of town. This is where she met some of the best of friends.
She had a flavor of the free from zip-lining, roller coasters, tilt-a-whirl, any carnival rides – the faster they would spin the better. For her 90th birthday, she jumped out of a perfectly good airplane in Longmont, CO, and loved every minute. “So much fun.” She had planned to do it again in July.
“I would say that I have been blessed. I still have all of my teeth, a full head of hair, I do not need a walker, mow my lawn, fix fence, live in my own home, and I still drive my car, …loss of taste and smell, and I use hearing aides, and that’s it.”
Darlene’s siblings are Robert Glen Curtis (wife-Virginia), Ardienna Janet (Curtis, Robb, Oliver) (husband-Carl) Kretschman, Carolyn Nadine (Curtis, Kountz) (husband-Donald “Babe”) McDonald, infant Jimmy Dale Curtis, and step-brothers Allen Manley, and Dallas Gerald Manley O’Connor. Her surviving siblings are sister Carol and step-brother Dallas, and so many cousins.
Children of Darlene are Robert R. McCue of Buffalo, WY; Catherine (McCue) and husband Brent Nielsen of Hermosa, SD; Debra (McCue) and husband Steve Renneisen of Gillette, WY, and “bonus daughters.” Her grandchildren, Brittany Patrice (McCue) and husband Daniel Dye of Gillette, WY, and Tyler Cole McCue and wife Lorena of Boulder, CO. Great-grandchildren, Daxton Cole Dye and MD. “Bonus grandchildren” are Eric (Joanna) Dusseault, Dani (Steve) Anderson, Kyle (Sarah) Dusseault, Chelsie Dusseault, and Jamie (Dominic) Buono, and their respective children.
Everyone she met got a big hug from her. She loved being an authentic cowgirl, who worked right beside the toughest yet could shine up with her bling as a lady. She was a rancher/farmer foremost, she missed the ranch dearly.

Service Schedule

Funeral Service

1:00 p.m.

Sunday May 18, 2025

The Playhouse

7 N. Main St.

Buffalo, Wyoming 82834

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Funeral Service

11:00 a.m.

Monday May 19, 2025

Grace Bible Church

3505 Stower St.

Miles City, Montana 59301

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Interment

Immediately Following the Funeral Service

Monday May 19, 2025

Custer County Cemetery

Miles City, Montana 59301

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