Darlys Connell, 1936-2022
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jan 18, 2022 | 9:30 AM / 612 views
Darlys Connell, 85, of Mobridge passed away Sunday, January 16, 2022 at her home in Mobridge. A small family funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, January 20, 2022 at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge. Services will also be livestreamed on the Kesling Funeral Home Facebook page. Graveside services will be at 2:30 PM, Friday January 21, 2022 at the Cresbard Cemetery. Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge is in charge of arrangements.
God has called His finest gardener to tend His flowers in heaven. Darlys Annette (Stone) Connell, the third child of Willis LeRoy and Selma Agnes (Een) Stone, was born on October 5, 1936, in Mansfield, SD. Darlys grew up on a farm near Cresbard, along with two older brothers: James and Daryl and one younger brother: Willis (Larry). As a child, she was known to be very spirited and one who fought for what she believed in. Darlys attended Cresbard High School where she played clarinet in the very accomplished Cresbard High School band. While in high school, she worked at Holscher cafe where she met her future husband, Vernon (Toad) Connell. After graduation, she and Toad were married in June of 1954. They resided on a farm near Cresbard. In 1955, they welcomed their first born, Jerry Michael. In 1958, Craig LeRoy joined the Connell crew. In 1961, Toad was sworn in as the postmaster in the Cresbard Post Office, which prompted a move to town. In 1963, the Connells welcomed Jody Lynn to the family.
The Connell family was a bit of a sports family with Darlys being their number one cheerleader. Whatever the season, you could be sure she was watching her children perform. Darlys was a member of the Cresbard United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school. She was a member of the women’s auxiliary as well. Her summers were spent supervising the summer recreation concession stand and helping with many local events. She was an avid gardener, many times growing enough produce to be canned and used throughout the year.
In 1976, her husband, Toad, passed away, forcing her to figure out a way to support the family. She then enrolled in Stewart’s School of Hairstyling and became a beautician. After her internship, she operated Jody’s Beauty Salon in Cresbard from 1978-1984 when failing health forced her to change occupations. She then moved to Washington state where her parents and other family members lived. While there, she was employed by Boeing. In 1997, she returned to Mobridge, SD. She worked at The Connection and Dady Drug before finally retiring. Her retirement years found her following her grandchildren’s extra-curricular events.
Darlys was called home on January 16, 2022. Grateful for having shared in her life are her three children: Jerry Connell, Craig (Janeen) Connell, and Jody (Wayne) Schmidt; her four grandchildren: Travis (Jennifer) Schmidt, Meghan (Ryan) Weigel, Cami Connell (Robb), Kelsey (Brett) Riggs; her eight great-grandchildren: Aubrey and Ashlyn Schmidt, Ben, Drew, and Chloe Weigel, Kellen, Max, and Lucas Riggs. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Donna Stone, Lorraine Stone, Liz Stone, and Doris Connell along with many special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Toad; her parents Willis and Selma; her brothers James, Daryl, and Larry; sisters-in-law Jean Stone, Ollie Martschinske, Marilyn Connell, Verna Simon, and Sue Stone; brothers-in-law Virgil Connell, Ed Martschinske, and Raymond Simon.
Darlys’ family would like to thank Dr. Travis Henderson and the staff of the Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinic for the dedicated, thoughtful, and compassionate care for their loved one.
“Say not in grief ‘she is no more’ but in thankfulness that she was.” Hebrew Proverb