Darleen Pence, Mitchell

Darleen Pence, 89, Mitchell, formerly of Letcher, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab, Mitchell.

She was born on March 10, 1923.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Will Funeral Chapel, Mitchell. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery, Letcher.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral chapel with a 7 p.m. prayer service.

Darleen Johnson, daughter of Jacob and Josie Johnson, was born at the family farm in rural Mount Vernon.

She attended Victor Country School in rural Mount Vernon.

After her schooling, she worked at Defense Plant at Bauer Produce, Mitchell.

Darleen was united in marriage with Lyle Pence on Sept. 30, 1947, in Mount Vernon.

The couple lived for a short time in Letcher before moving to a farm northwest of Letcher. The couple continued to farm until December 2011.

Darleen worked at the Storla Sunset Home for 25 years as a housekeeper.

They then moved to Mitchell and resided at Crystal Manor and later at Avera Brady Health and Rehab.

She was a member of UCC Church in Letcher, where she taught Bible School and was active in Ladies Aide at the church.

Darleen enjoyed cooking, flowers and gardening.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Lyle Pence, Mitchell; four children: Clinton (Holly) Pence, Mitchell; Linda (Gary) Fawbush, Madison; Murray (Jackie) Pence, Vancouver, Wash.; and Rick (Sue) Pence, Sioux Falls; 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, a brother, Wesley (Donna) Johnson, Mount Vernon; a sister, Verna (Arlan) Feistner, Woonsocket; a brother-in-law, Delmar (Wanessa) Pence, Kingman, Ariz.; and a sister-in-law, Elaine Reimann, Sioux Falls.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kassia; three sisters: Evelyn Merkle, Yvonne Gates and Eunice Lachnit; and her parents.

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