Darla R. Van Asselt

Darla Rae Van Asselt (44) passed away on September 25, 2012 at the Dougherty Hospice House after a battle with cancer. She was surrounded every minute by family and friends.

Darla was born on December 26, 1967 to Clement and Mary Ann (Berndt) Kloucek. She was raised on a farm south of Scotland. She graduated from Scotland High School in 1986. She loved the farm and playing basketball and running track. Darla attended South Dakota State University and graduated with a double major in microbiology and medical technology. She finished her medical technology certification in Sioux City, Iowa. Darla began her career with Aberdeen Family Physicians in 1992 and then moved on to Avera Health Systems in Sioux Falls, SD. In 2009, she completed a degree in Histology and was then promoted to her current position as Supervisor of the Histology department at Avera McKennan. She touched many lives in her medical career.

Darla married Tom Van Asselt on October 10, 1992. They lived in the Aberdeen area for 10 years where they started their family of boys. Austin was born in 1995 and Alex in 1997. In 2002, the family moved to Colton, SD and was blessed with the addition of Tanner and Derek in 2004. Darla loved attending and following her boys’ activities especially the Tri-Valley High School football team. She took great pride in her garden, sharing the produce with family and friends. Her most recent love was the family cabin on Brandt Lake. Darla loved all outside activities from helping Tom and the boys on the farm with the animals to water and snow skiing.

Darla was a spunky, spirited young woman who gained everyone’s love and respect through her straight forward approach to life. She will be missed by many, but her spirit will live on in everyone she touched.

Grateful for having shared Darla’s life are her husband Tom and children Austin, Alex, Tanner and Derek. Her mother Mary Ann Kloucek, and 2 sisters Carol (Dennis) Streyle, and Ann (Peter) Kinney. Her father and mother in-law, William and Ramona Van Asselt, and in-laws Rhonda (Dave) Anderson, Mark (Peg) Van Asselt, and Mary (Mike) Will along with many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

She was preceded in death by her father Clement Joseph Kloucek and infant great niece Carolyn.

Visitation will be held at First Lutheran Church in Colton, SD on Friday September 28, 2012 beginning at 5 PM with family present at 6:30 and prayer service at 7 PM. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at First Lutheran Church in Colton, SD.

The family has established a memorial fund in Darla's name.