Darlene Jane Bye

Darlene J. Bye of Dell Rapids, SD passed away on December 7, 2023, at Wilmot Care Center, Wilmot, SD. Memorial services will begin at 6:30 PM Sunday, December 10, 2023, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids, with a visitation beginning at 5:00 PM. Interment will begin at 11:00 AM Monday, December 11, 2023, at the Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery, rural Harrison, South Dakota.

Darlene was born in rural Bon Homme County in South Dakota on May 29, 1935, to parents George A. and Marion L. (Engler) Meiers.  She was the last surviving of nine children.  Darlene attained the age of 88 years, 6 months and 9 days.

Darlene graduated from Avon High School.  She received her Registered Nursing degree from Sacred Heart Nursing School at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD.  Darlene started her nursing career at Douglas County Memorial Hospital in Armour, SD.  It was there that she met and fell in love with her patient, Mervin G. Bye.  They were united in marriage at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Avon, SD on June 2, 1958.  Darlene and Mervin made their home on the farm NW of Harrison, SD.  Darlene continued working at DCMH while raising 3 children.  Darlene was a hard worker, working full time, nurturing her children, raising chickens and gardening.  Mom was a great seamstress and sewed her own clothes and the family's too.  After retirement her passion was quilting. She would sit for hours at the sewing machine making quilts for her nieces, nephews and grandkids.  There are several graduation and wedding quilts made with Darlene's TLC.  While she was able, she joined the ladies at Dell Rapids Lutheran Church sewing quilt tops.

Darlene’s 52+ year nursing career also included serving as Douglas County Health Nurse for Douglas County in South Dakota while still living on the farm.  After Mervin and Darlene left the farm life in 1986  they moved to Spearfish, SD where Darlene commuted to Hot Springs VA, Hot Springs, SD.  After her  husband passed away in 1989, Darlene made her home on an acreage NE of Dell Rapids, SD,  where she resided until July 2023 when health issues would not allow her to live at home.  She continued her nursing services at different nursing homes including:  Bethany in Sioux Falls, Garretson Nursing Home, Terrace Manor in Dell Rapids, Trent Assisted Living in Trent, SD.  She was very proud of being a nurse and serving others.

Darlene was a faithful servant of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  She read frequently from the Bible, Guideposts and Christ in Our Home.

Thankful and proud to have shared her life with her husband Mervin are her children:  Norman of Silt, CO, Pam (Joe Nemmers) of Trent, SD and Kurt of Dell Rapids, SD.  Grandchildren:  Roman Nemmers of Dell Rapids, SD,  Noah Nemmers of Trent, SD and Morgan Nemmers of Brookings, SD, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Mervin, her parents George and Marion, siblings:  LaVelle, Lauren, Arnold, Laurene, Glenn, Junior, LeRoy and Maureen Hassan.  Sisters-in-law: Velma (LaVelle), Sylvia (Lauren).  Brother-in-law Ali Hassan.