Darlene King, age 97, passed away on June 21st, 2026 in Moultrie, GA just six days away from her 98th birthday.  A graveside service will be held on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Winner City Cemetery in Winner, SD.

Darlene Boerner,  grew up and graduated high school in Winner, SD.  Her father Carlisle William  Boerner worked at the lumberyard and loved to hunt and fish.  Her mother Amelia Coash Boerner worked many jobs during the depression, keeping food on the table.  That era of Darlene's life had a great impact on her.  Throughout her life, she was always able to make do with what little money was available, and always found a way to provide for their four children.  All four of her children went to college. To say she sacrificed would be such an understatement.

At age 19, she married Llyle King who was raised on a farm in Tripp County.  Their first child, Karen was born later that year, and then three more children, Janet, Roger and Linda followed closely behind.

Llyle went to Europe during WWII and then again was deployed during the Korean War.  The  little money that he sent home kept the family well nourished.  Llyle often told the story of returning home from his Korean War deployment and telling Darlene that they would have to borrow a bit of money to get him a few items of clothing so he could get a job.  She laughed and told him she had the money in the bank.  We'll never know how she managed her money, but she could make a dollar stretch a mile when she needed to.  She should have written a book for all of us to learn how to be happy and prosper regardless of the bank account balance.

They moved their four children, Karen, Janet, Roger and Linda to Omaha and eventually to Guntersville, AL where Llyle managed a plant which barged alfalfa from Nebraska to Alabama.   Alfalfa was not a crop in the south, and that alfalfa, which was barged into Guntersville, was sold to feed mills all over the southeast.  They lived in Guntersville for about 10 years, then moved to Fremont, NE where Roger and Linda graduated high school.    Llyle's company then asked him to build a new alfalfa plant in Muleshoe TX, which required a move there for two years.  Late in his career, Llyle worked for an engineering firm designing agricultural equipment, and that new career took them to Overland Park , KS.  They retired in Fremont, NE.  Darlene had an interesting life, living in so many different parts of the country.

Darlene was so proud of her children and their successes.  Karen taught math in Denver.  Roger was an engineer for the city of Moultrie, GA.  Janet had many different careers, and Linda, the youngest, was a successful restauranteur in Des Moines, IA, owning three different establishments there

After she lost her husband in 1980 in Fremont, NE, Darlene went to work as a bailiff in the county courthouse.  She had never really worked, and found it very rewarding.   Whatever Darlene did, she gave it her all!

At age 75, Darlene realized she that needed to move near to one of her two surviving children, Karen and Roger, so that they could care for her as she aged.  She had already had kidney and lung cancer, and yet survived for another 22 years.  Roger and his wife Anne invited her to Moultrie, GA where she built a new home.

Darlene is survived by her daughter Karen Kettunen(Bill) from Destin FL and her son Roger King (Anne) from Moultrie GA, five grandchildren, Chris Sautter (Arlette) Carencro, LA , Dr. Will Kettunen( LeeAnn) Enterprise, AL, Jim Kettunen (Danielle) Castle Rock, CO, Salley Edwards (Briley) Moultrie, GA, and Amanda Rutherford (Patrick) Athens, GA.  She is preceded in death by her husband Llyle King, daughter Janet Quick and daughter Linda Kohn.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, August 24, 2026  at 11:00 AM at the Winner Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please say a prayer for Darlene.