Darlene Smith

Darlene Bernice Smith, 83, Browns Valley, MN, passed away surrounded by family July 27, 2021, at the Coteau des Prairies Hospital in Sisseton.

Funeral services will be Friday, July 30, at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Browns Valley with Pat Schubert officiating. Music will be provided by organist Ginny Westbrock and vocalist Todd Johnson.

Burial will be in the Valley View Cemetery, Browns Valley. Pallbearers will be Jason Thomas, Lucas Brockhaus, Cody Ward, Cole Ward, Chad Ward, Larry Thomas, Joe Brockhaus, Preston Ulrich, Ryan Zimmerman, and Connor West.

Visitation open house will be Thursday, July 29, from. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Browns Valley and will continue Friday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Darlene was born March 18, 1938, to Eitel and Marie (Langager) Engel in Browns Valley. Darlene, brother Donald, and parents resided in rural Bryant Township. Darlene graduated from Browns Valley High School in 1956. After high school she attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD, and acquired a teaching certificate.

Following college, she was united in marriage to Irvin Smith, Beardsley, MN. To this union six children were born.

Darlene enjoyed being a wife, mother, and homemaker. She was a teacher at a rural school in Bryant Township, a head start teacher, and a cook at Ike's Chicken Shack and Valley Hi. Her last teaching and most loved job was Little People's Daycare which she eventually purchased and continued teaching and caring for many children. She found great pleasure and reward in shaping the minds of her "little people." This is also where Darlene earned the title "Everybody's Grandma Darlene" as all the little boys and girls who attended her daycare also called her this name.

Darlene's hobbies included quilting, reading, gardening, holiday decorating, cooking, and baking. She was especially known for her amazing caramel rolls and delicious pies. However, one could argue that her amazing quilts are what she is best known for, as many of her quilting creations will bring joy to others for years to come.

Irvin and Darlene together enjoyed listening to old time music and would travel to Peever to enjoy the local entertainment. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren provided her with many hours of pleasure, especially during the holidays. During her time at the Browns Valley Health Center, she enjoyed playing cards with her lady friends. Darlene also continued her love of education and devotion to being a lifelong learner at Browns Valley Health Center, where she learned how to use a Kindle for the first time and became a social media savant. We will miss her comments and posts on Facebook.

Survivors include her husband, Irvin Smith of Browns Valley; children, Debby Thomas (Larry) of Moorhead, MN, Sharon (Joe) Brockhaus of Rosholt, SD, Cindy Ward of Browns Valley, Kenneth (friend Tamie) Smith of Browns Valley, Jeffrey Smith of Browns Valley, and Michael (Karen) Smith, of Milbank, SD.  She had twelve grandchildren, Jessica, Jason, Danielle, and Lindsay Thomas, Ana and Lucas Brockhaus, Chad, Charla, Cody, and Cole Ward, and Elizabeth and Jasmine Smith; and nineteen great-grandchildren.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Eitel and Marie Engel; brother, Donald Engel; and grandson, Devan Smith.