Funeral services for Darlene Marple, age 68, of Dupree will be 2 PM, MT Saturday, September 10, 2011 at the UCC Church in Dupree. Burial will be at the Dupree Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Family prayer service will start at 11 AM, MT Saturday morning at the church. Darlene passed away Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at the Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Darlene Kay Marple was born on October, 6th, 1942 in Dupree, SD to Harry and Marion (Sever) Stambach. She attended the Lantry school until her family moved to Dupree. Darlene graduated from Dupree High School in 1960. She worked at Damburger's clothing store after graduation.

On June 15, 1963, Darlene married Bill Marple. They made their home and raised their four children on the family farm south of Dupree. Bill and Darlene continued to farm and ranch until Bill became ill in 1992. They then sold their portion of the partnership and moved to town in the fall of 1993.

Darlene started babysitting in the late seventies at their home in the country and then had a daycare in her home in town. She went to work for Dupree Daycare when it was first opened in 2003. Darlene worked at the Daycare until she became ill in 2005. She continued to live in their home in Dupree until 2009 when she moved to the hills area. Darlene became known as Grandma Darlene to quite a few children in the area. She always enjoyed having a beautiful yard with lots of flowers and decorating for every holiday that came along. Darlene loved following her grandchildren to all of their sporting events and concerts or whatever else they participated in. She continued to thrive on her grandchildren's happenings until the time of her death.

Darlene was a member of the United Church of Christ in Dupree, the Dupree American Legion Auxiliary, and the Dupree Daffy Dolls Red Hatters Organization. Darlene helped organize and serve in the lunch stand at the various Dupree Rodeos for a number of years and in 2005 received an appreciation award for this service.

Darlene is survived by her 3 daughters; Deanne (Bruce) Keegan of Dupree SD, Jolene (Steve) Green of Springfield, SD, and Lynn (Scott) Simons of Union Center, SD; 7 grandchildren, Ross, Colby and Garrett Keegan, Shana and Chase Green, and Ashlyn and Jared Simons; her brother Fred (Gail) Stambach and brother-in-law Woody Woodward of Dupree, SD; her sister Micki (Glen) Haines, of Faith, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her son Duane, her parents, and her twin sister Marlene Woodward.

A memorial has been established to the Dupree Daycare.