Darline Van Driel

Darline Van Driel, age 92, formerly of rural Utica, SD passed away Thursday, July 24, 2014 at the Good Samaritan Center, Scotland, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at St. Agnes Catholic Church (Sigel), rural Utica, SD with Rev. Steven Jones officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitations will begin at 5:00 PM, Monday, July 28, 2014 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home, Yankton, with a Wake service at 7:00 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.

Darline was born in Mapleton, IA on March 5, 1922 to Alois & Clara (Sewenig) Uhl. She attended Sacred Heart Grade School and graduated from Yankton High School. She married Arthur Van Driel on February 19, 1941 in Yankton, SD. They farmed north of Utica, then retired and moved to Lesterville. Darline moved to Yankton in 1992.

Darline entered the Good Samaritan Center, Scotland, SD in 2012. She was a member of St Agnes/Sigel Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist in Lesterville and St. Benedict Catholic Church. Her faith was a very important part of her life. Darline enjoyed sewing, quilting, crocheting, reading and especially being with her family. She made quillos for each of her grandchildren and her children have received several of her quilting creations. She spent many hours helping on the farm, tending to the chickens, gardening and canning. Fried chicken for Sunday dinner was a specialty of hers and all of her children.

Darline is survived by her children: Judy (Richard) Bierle, Doreen (Dale) Schlechter, Pat (Cliff) Steffen, Mary (Jerry) Brown-Nelson, Kathy (Carlos) Reyes, Marcia (Richard) Cuka, Michael (Tess) Van Driel, Pete (Sharon) Van Driel, Jim (Renata) Van Driel and Bill (Tina) Van Driel; 51 grandchildren; 66 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 5 brothers, 4 sisters, husband, Arthur in 1987, daughter, Jean in 1962, a granddaughter, a grandson, a great-grandson, and son-in-law, Gary Brown.