Darlene Harris, Emmetsburg, IA, and formerly of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away April 5, 2026, on her 100th birthday at Emmetsburg.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 13, 2026, at First United Methodist Church, 401 S. Spring Avenue in Sioux Falls. The family will be present to greet friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00. Following a luncheon, interment will be at Hills of Rest Memorial Park.

The service will be live-streamed using this link: https://firstchurchsf.online.church/

Darlene Viola Held Harris was born on April 5, 1926, in Hinton, Iowa, to Viola Croston Held and Benjamin Held. Her childhood was full. Growing up on a farm in Hinton, the youngest of 10 brothers and sisters, Darlene learned about the connectedness and importance of family at a young age. Whether it was sharing a bed with her sisters, joining her brothers in doing chores, playing outdoors all together, or playing basketball in the haymow of the barn, the farm wasn't just home, it was a compass she carried with her throughout life.

As the baby of the family, Darlene was "the darling" of the siblings. Her older sisters often took care of her when her parents were busy running the farm. These relationships, especially with her sister Lois, would turn into lifelong friendships that brought her joy, laughter, and connection. She looked up to her sisters and always spoke about them with a reverence of admiration and respect. It was also in these early years that Darlene learned skills that would be with her throughout life, often becoming gifts she would bestow on others. Sewing turned into quilts she would make for others, baking became the center of countless gatherings for friends and family, a love for music turned into a home filled with sound, and a deep belief in education turned into a legacy of thoughtful and dedicated professionals.

Darlene was unaware of how unique her trajectory was, often saying, "It's just what we did," when talking about nine of her 10 siblings graduating from Morningside College in the 1940s, including all of her sisters. Darlene would regale the stories of driving to and from classes with a nickel for lunch each day. It's not surprising that she got her teaching degree and took that love of playing outdoors as a child and became a P.E. teacher in 1947. Morningside not only provided her with a pathway to a classroom, it also introduced her to the love of her life, Dale Harris, her husband of 70 years. They married on June 3, 1949, and together they built a life from scratch, built on the foundation of love, family, and faith. Together, they had three children: Debbie (Brown), Steve Harris, and Kelley (Fog). Nothing was more important to Darlene than family and she was the undeniable center of strength for hers.

The family moved many times throughout Iowa as Dale took different football coaching jobs. Wherever they lived, there were horses, gardens, and usually a sledding hill in Iowa winters. In 1964, the family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which would become their home for 56 years. Together, they built a life dedicated to seeing their children thrive. Even though Darlene spent years as an elementary school secretary in Sioux Falls and then supported Dale when he started his own farm equipment sales business, she would most endearingly call herself a "homemaker." She was really a memory creator. Whether it was the annual lake vacations she planned, the meals that would seem to appear out of nowhere, or the way she would pull aside her grandkids one-by-one to hear all about their interests, she was never in the forefront, but always in the lead.

To her grandchildren, she was the maker of quilts and chocolate chip cookies; to her friends, she was the empathetic listener and voracious reader; to her children, she was a source of strength and inspiration; and to her husband, she was everything (and "the best fisherman in the house"). A member of the First Methodist Church in Sioux Falls for 55 years, Darlene's faith was strong and secure. She felt fortunate to find ways to give back to her community through volunteer work and enjoyed her years with Dale at the Good Samaritan at Prairie Creek  where she continued to create friendships, take computer classes so she could follow her grandchildren on social media, learn new skills, and be one of the most spry residents in all of the exercise classes.

Darlene Viola Held Harris is a testament to a life well lived. Passing on her 100th birthday, she was a testament of strength and love, inspiration and introspection. We are all better because of her.

She is survived by her children, Debbie (Tom) Brown, Kelley (David) Fog; grandchildren, Sarah, Heidi, Michael, Morgan, Ashley, Katherine, Ally, Dan, Becky, Laura and Josh; and 25 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Harris, siblings Emma, Howard, Hazel, Carol, Joyce, Robert, Roberta, Warren, and Lois. She is also preceded in death by her beloved son, Dr. Steven Harris.