Darlene Vande Kieft

DARLENE VANDE KIEFT was born on April 12, 1954 to Joseph and Doris (Chase) Hoss in Madison, South Dakota. She grew up in the Madison area until her family moved to Texas. After a year in Texas they moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa where Darlene attended high school. After high school she was united in marriage to Gary Van Den Bosch. The couple farmed near Dundee, Minnesota and then moved to a farm near Holland, Minnesota. He preceded her in death in December of 1994. Darlene sold the farm place near Holland and lived with her mother for a time until she met James Hubling and the two were united in marriage. A few years later, Jim suffered a stroke and was paralyzed for a time and he preceded her in death. In 2003, Darlene was united in marriage to Mark Dennis VandeKieft at the Pipestone County Courthouse and the two lived their lives together in Pipestone. On Saturday, October 9, 2021 Darlene was admitted to the Pipestone County Medical Center with complications from pneumonia and was then flown to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. On Sunday, October 10, 2021 she died there at the age of 67 years, five months, and 28 days.

Darlene was a caring woman who always cared for others before herself. Her ability to empathize with others’ grief and hardships was unmatched. She loved to listen to Country Western music and was also a big fan of Elvis. She and Mark loved to sit across from each other and just relax at their home and watch a little TV together or maybe go for a drive. She loved flowers; the beauty they brought to her life brought her joy! Her phone calls and conversations will be missed. She never ended a phone call with goodbye, it was always, “so long” or “Dan Drake signing out.”

Darlene is lovingly remembered by her husband, Mark, of Pipestone; one son, Troy Vandenbosch and his wife, Kelita, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; two step-sons, Dean (Amy) VandeKieft of Alexandria, Minnesota, and Thomas VandeKieft of Colorado; ten grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister; and four brothers. She was preceded in death by two husbands; four brothers; her parents; and her mother- and father-in-law, Marinus “Bud” and Lois Vande Kieft.

Blessed be her memory!