Darlene Rose

Who was Darlene Rose?

Darlene Deibler Rose was a born-again Christian missionary in Papua New Guinea during and after World War II in what would later be the Western Highlands province. Darlene Deibler was the first American woman to enter the Baliem Valley of New Guinea, working there with her husband Rev. Russell C. Deibler. When WWII broke out the Deiblers were sent to separate prison camps. Russell died in confinement at Pare Pare, but Darlene survived four years in a Japanese prison camp for women at Kampili. She claims her Christian faith sustained her during those years.

Her experience is documented in the autobiographical "Evidence not seen: a woman's miraculous faith in a Japanese prison camp during WWII" which has been optioned for a possible film.

Audio of Darlene Deibler Rose telling her experiences.

After the war Darlene married Jerry Rose and resumed missionary work in New Guinea. After nearly thirty years in New Guinea they relocated to the Australian outback. She died on February 24, 2004.