Funeral services for Darlene Liebelt, 90 of Mobridge, will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 10:30 AM at Kesling Funeral Home, Mobridge, SD. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024 from 5-7:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment will follow the services at Greenwood Cemetery, Mobridge. Darlene died on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at the Mobridge Regional Hospital.

Darlene Jean Rische was born October 11, 1933, to Melvin and Elfrieda Rische on the farm in Campbell County near Mound City. She was the fourth child. Darlene went to the Kuehl Country School through 8th grade. She then attended the Lutheran Academy in Mobridge for two years and then went to work in various stores in Mobridge; JC Penney and Steinward's Drug Store.

On the farm, since there weren't any boys yet, the girls had to help their dad with various chores along with helping in the house. She then lived with her sister, Bertha until she got married.

Darlene met Raymond "Bob" Stotz shortly after when he came back from the service, they were married January 15, 1956, and they lived in Mobridge until Lynn was born, then they moved to  McLaughlin where the house they were going to buy was built. Darlene had a large garden and always had flowers. Mostly, Darlene was a wife and mother and friend. She had long friendships with these women over the years, Shirley Dolman of Washington, Glenda Palmer of Mobridge, Ida Holzer (her walking partner) of Mobridge, and Fay Jackman of Mobridge.

Darlene and Bob enjoyed going out to eat and to dances, mostly in the winter as Raymond was usually busy out at the farm in the spring, summer, and fall. They didn't get a honeymoon, but in 1959, they took a trip to Nashville, where they went to the Grand Ole Opry. Raymond had managed to get tickets on Darlene's birthday, and she got to see one of her favorite country singers, Jim Reeves. Darlene and Bob had thirty years together until he passed away on November 10, 1986. Darlene then went to work at the Drug Store in McLaughlin. Lynn and Darlene would meet for lunch when the Cozy Kitchen had their hot pork combinations. Darlene's sister Bertha passed away in March 1987. This was a difficult time for Darlene, she and Bertha were the closest siblings.

Darlene had a friend, Hank, Bertha's husband, that she talked to all the time on the phone. Darlene decided to move to Seattle and see if she and Hank could make a relationship work. They were married in February of 1988. When Hank retired, they decided to make the move to Onalaska out in the country.

Darlene loved her granddaughters, Misty and Sheena more than anything in the world. Darlene insisted on buying them the same outfits, just different sizes. No wonder people thought Lynn had twins, lol.

It became apparent that Hank had memory issues. He was diagnosed with dementia (Alzheimer's) and life became difficult for Darlene again. Darlene cared for Hank until he passed. Hank was a grandpa to Lynn's daughters because they had few to no memories of their grandpa, Bob. Darlene then decided it was time to move back to South Dakota to be closer to her mother and siblings. Before she made the big move back, her mother, Elfrieda passed away. Darlene's son-in-law, Jim built her flower beds and a raised garden area. He enjoyed making her things out of wood so her house is filled with the things he made for her. In 2013, Darlene was dealt another blow when her son-in-law, Jim passed away on May 28 and her sister LaVonne passed away in June.  Darlene had a strong faith and relationship with Jesus. She lived a long, sometimes hard life but she endured and more than survived the circumstances that came along. Darlene passed away peacefully on April 7, 2024, in the Mobridge Regional Hospital where she was well taken care of and loved by all the nurses and aides. A special thank you to Cass, Holly, Sydney, Vicky and Isabella who went above and beyond the last few hours of her life.

Darlene is survived by her daughter, Lynn of Mobridge, step-children Debbie Bilyeu, of Shelton, WA, Orlin (Sherry) Liebelt of Onalaska, WA, Galen (Pam) Liebelt of Athens, AL and Tina (Marty) Conrad, granddaughters, Misty (John) Hill of Defiance, OH, Sheena Rose of Sioux Falls, 16 step-grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, 9 step great grandchildren, her sisters, Elaine (Wood) Chesky of Selby, Margie Volk of Gillette, WY, brothers, Dennis and Marlin (Gloria) Rische.

Darlene was preceded in death by her mother and father, Melvin and Elfrieda (Becker) Rische; both husbands; Raymond (Bob) Stotz and Henry (Hank) Liebelt, sisters; Bertha, Betty, LaVonne and Louise, father-in-law and mother-in-law; Jacob and Magdelena Stotz, son-in-law, James (Jim) Mendenhall, aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews too numerous to mention by name.