Darlene E. Williams

Darlene E. Williams, age 76, of Yankton, SD passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Robert Wullweber officiating. Burial will be in the St. Vincent Cemetery, rural Springfield, SD at approximately 1:15 PM Tuesday afternoon. Visitations will begin at 6:00 PM, Monday, June 1, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, with a rosary at 7:00 PM followed by a Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers are Alex Williams, Ian Williams, Kevin Elliott, Charles Elliott, Stephanie Schmidt and Alan Fossum.

Darlene was born on December 21, 1938 to Chauncy and Mary (McElroy) Elliott in Gregory, SD, the youngest of nine children. She was raised on the family farm 5 miles west of Dallas, SD. She graduated high school in Colome, SD in 1956 and received her Teacher Certificate in 1957 from Southern State Teacher's College in Springfield, SD. She married Donald L. Williams on October 25, 1958. To this union, three children were born: Maureen and twins, Brian and Bruce.

Darlene began working at JC Penney in Rapid City in 1978 and retired in 1999. They began wintering in Texas that year and made their summer home in Yankton in 2001.

Darlene enjoyed travelling, reading, knitting and feeding and watching wildlife from the deck of her home. She enjoyed the company of her Texas friends and the solitude of her Yankton home.

Darlene is survived by her children, Maureen (Bob) Frier of Lubbock, TX and Brian (Anne) of Sioux Falls, SD; grandsons, Ian and Alex Williams of Sioux Falls, SD and Israel Tesch of Mesa, AZ; great-granddaughter, Sydney Tesch of Mesa, AZ; brother, Merle (Dee) Elliott, of Colome, SD and several nieces and nephews.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Chauncy and Mary Elliott, her husband, Donald and infant son, Bruce Williams.