Darlene Ford

DARLENE MARY FORD was born on August 8, 1933 to Ernest and Christina (Van Dam) Meyer in Dell Rapids, SD. Her family moved to Holland, MN when she was four years old and she grew up and attended school in Holland. She began working at Fecker's in Pipestone, MN at the age of 16. She also worked for the Brockhouse family and Dr. White, cooking and doing housekeeping. She was united in marriage on June 11, 1955 to Bernard James Ford at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. The couple lived on farms south and north of Woodstock and Darlene helped Bernard farm and raise the kids. In 1968 they moved into Woodstock. After Bernard's death on June 5, 1970, Darlene was at home raising her four young children while also doing many various jobs including cleaning and wallpapering homes for people in the community, styling friends' hair and cooking at the Woodstock restaurant.  She then worked for Bayliner in Pipestone for 12 years, ending in 1991. In January, 2013 Darlene moved into Falls Landing and resided there until May, 2019 when she entered the care of the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone. On June 6, 2019 she entered the Pipestone County Hospice House where she passed away peacefully on Friday, July 19, 2019, at the age of 85 years, 11 months, and 11 days.

Darlene was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church and had been attending St. Leo Catholic Church since the closing of St. Martin. She was a part of the Ladies Aid group, helping for many years to cook and serve the annual turkey dinner and numerous funerals. She was also a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the VFW of Woodstock. She liked spending time outdoors working on her yard and her flower garden. She took great pride in having her home look nice both inside and out. Darlene loved to provide for people when she could, she was asked many times to make her potato salad or cookies for weddings or special occasions, and she really enjoyed doing it! Her greatest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Darlene is lovingly remembered by her four children, Dean (Sandi) Ford of Pipestone, Debra (Ken) Kontz of Sioux Falls, SD, Del Ford of Woodstock, and Deanne Logan of Chanhassen, MN; eight grandchildren, Angela (Jason) Cowles, Chris (Shannon) Gorter, Brianna Ford, Aubrie Ford, Jordan Kontz, Erin (Jason) Schreader, Nicholas Ford, and Carter Logan; seven great-grandchildren Hannah, Tyler and Gavin Cowles, Collin and Loralai Gorter, Kade and Kolton Kontz; and sister, Betty Einck of Redwood Falls, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard; her parents; one grandson, Joshua Kontz; daughter-in-law, Terri Ford; brothers, Nicholas, Edward, Clarence, and Ernest, Jr.; and sisters, Mary Ann Steele and Ardis Veen.