 Darlene Doris (Swensen) Kuchta, 74 years old of Yankton, SD passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2008 at the Avera Yankton Care Center, Yankton, SD. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM, Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Yankton with burial at the Garden of Memories Cemetery. Pastor Dave Wildermuth will be officiating. Visitations will be from 5-8 PM, Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at the Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory with the family present from 6-7 PM. There is a 7:00 PM prayer service. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at Trinity Lutheran Church. Following, the service, coffee and cake will be served by the Women of Trinity Lutheran Church for one hour. Burial will take place after that. Pallbearers will be Gerald Jensen, Roger Lamp, Kenny Mellem, John Swensen, Leland (Chris) Swensen, and Dean Thomsen. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Darlene's cousins, nieces and nephews.
Darlene was born on September 5, 1933 at Irene, SD to Floyd and Olive (Pederson) Swensen. She started her education at Turkey Valley Grade School for 6 years and Mayfield School for 2 years. She graduated from Irene High School in 1951. She then moved to Yankton and attended Yankton Business College. She worked for Crocket Law Office after graduation. Darlene was joined in marriage to Lloyd F. Kuchta on April 19, 1953. They farmed by Utica, SD. Later, they moved to rural Irene and farmed there until they bought their current farm by Yankton in 1966. Darlene was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Yankton and the Yankton Antique Auto Club. She contributed her time and talents to the church soup kitchen, also. When she was able, Darlene loved her gardening and flowers. She also enjoyed reading and watching Wheel of Fortune. She enjoyed her pretty glassware collection, visiting with family and friends-always offered coffee and cookies and her tavern meat was a favorite of everyone's. She always loved going for drives with Lloyd and going to parades in their 1930 Plymouth or their 1930 Model A Ford gave her much joy, also. When she was not having knee problems, she very much liked attending church. She cherished her family and her many friends. She was recognized easily by her ready smile. She was like a second "Mom" to many and cared deeply about all of her "children".
Darlene is survived by her husband of 55 years, Lloyd of Yankton, SD; her son, Kenny Kuchta of Yankton, SD; her daughter, Marlene Ahlers of Sioux Falls, SD and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Olive Swensen.
The family wishes for memorials to be directed to: Trinity Lutheran Church, 403 Broadway Avenue, Yankton, SD 57078.
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