Darleen S. Hofer

Visitation with the family present for Darleen S. Hofer will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Walter Funeral Home in Freeman. The visitation will be followed by a celebration of life service at 5 p.m., also at the funeral home.

Darleen S. (Mrs. Lloyd) Hofer, 89. was welcomed into the arms of Jesus after passing away peacefully at Freeman Regional Nursing Home (Oakview Terrace) on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.

Darleen Sue Richert was born April 6, 1936, to John J. and Audrey (Schulze) Richert at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D. Her first year of life was spent with her parents and paternal grandparents on the family farm located in the Turkey Ridge Valley southeast of Freeman, South Dakota.

Beginning with a move to Herrick, S.D., on her first birthday, Darleen’s growing up years took place in three South Dakota communities where her father served as school superintendent. In 1939 the family moved to Wolsey where Darleen attended school through eighth grade.

Many happy memories were made when the family spent summers back on the farm in the Turkey Ridge Valley. Playing with kitties, visiting extended family members who lived on the nearby farms, and helping her paternal grandparents with a variety of tasks were among Darleen’s favorites. Her childhood also included numerous train trips to Rapid City to visit her maternal grandparents.

Darleen began her freshman year at Freeman High School after her father accepted the role of superintendent in his home community of Freeman. Her high school activities included representing FHS at Girls State, as the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) candidate, and as a soprano in the very first assembly of the South Dakota All-State Chorus in 1952. She graduated from FHS in 1954 as senior class president and valedictorian.

After high school, Darleen attended the University of South Dakota where she pledged with the Alpha Xi Delta sorority.

On Oct. 2, 1955, Darleen was united in marriage with Lloyd D. Hofer. Together they shared 54 years of marriage until Lloyd’s passing on Nov. 30, 2009. Prior to moving to Sioux Falls in 2004, Lloyd and Darleen made their home west of Freeman. They were blessed with two daughters, Carol and Virginia.

Faith in Jesus was central to Darleen’s life. At an early age, her family instilled in her the value of devoting time to the study of Scripture. This, along with being a devoted prayer warrior on behalf of many others, was a daily habit she carried throughout her life. Her baptism took place in the Presbyterian Church in Wolsey and on May 25, 1958, she joined Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman. She was a faithful and active member of Bethany until 1993 when she and Lloyd began worshipping and participating in life groups at Central Church in Sioux Falls. Darleen read the Bible in its entirety multiple times and participated in a variety of Bible studies. This included serving as a leader for Bible Study Fellowship and other Bible study groups. For a number of years, Darleen enjoyed treating herself to the gift of a new Bible – always a different version – for her birthday. These Bibles were all well-read and marked with notes in her signature handwriting.

In addition to service on behalf of the church, Darleen was deeply involved in many aspects of community life, contributing countless volunteer hours for a variety of causes over the years. She was a member of the Dorcas Society, Freeman Junior College and Academy Auxiliary, Friendly Neighbors extension club, and instrumental in the establishment of Freeman’s Et Cetera Shoppe, a thrift store that generates funding for projects of Mennonite Central Committee. When a new manufacturing plant opened in Freeman in 1986, Darleen began sewing there, continuing in that capacity under several ownerships until her retirement in 2001.

Genealogy was of particular interest to Darleen. She did extensive research and compiled detailed information, not only tracing her own Low German and Norwegian ancestry, but her husband’s Hutterish heritage, as well. She filled thick binders with copies of documentation, photos, family stories, and personal recollections from over the years.

From the time she was a little girl, Darleen was a voracious reader. She was able to continue this hobby by reading at least one book a week until mid-March of this year. Her favorite pastime then transitioned to watching the 2,000 photos and short video clips that scrolled across her digital frame. Recent photos and images from long ago sparked numerous conversations about times spent with family and friends. Her favorite pictures and videos, however, tended to be those of kitties!

Many guests found themselves at Darleen’s table over the years. She was a generous hostess whose love language was preparing and serving delicious meals for others to enjoy. Lloyd and Darleen also loved extending hospitality by providing a place for guests to stay. Their home was a place of welcome!

Grandchildren brought Darleen much joy! She prayed for them daily, enjoyed spending time with them, played many games with them, attended their activities, and — until not so long ago — remained in communication with them through some of the longest text messages you could imagine.

Darleen lived independently until the day after Valentine’s Day in 2024. A fall, later coupled with a change in medication, resulted in the loss of her mobility, while the continued progression of Lupus severely restricted the joints in her hands. After 20 years of living in Sioux Falls, Darleen chose to return to her home community of Freeman. She became a resident at Freeman Regional Nursing Home (Oakview Terrace) on June 4, 2024. There she greatly appreciated and loved her caregivers (and frequently told them so)!

On May 27 of this year Darleen began receiving additional comfort care measures via hospice; two weeks before her passing, she experienced a significant decline.

Surviving Darleen are her two daughters: Carol Eisenbeis and husband Chris, and Virginia Hofer and husband Kevin. She is also survived by nine grandchildren (oldest to youngest): Brett Eisenbeis and partner Blake, Jacob Hofer and wife Helen, Alex Eisenbeis and partner Chrissy, Dylan Hofer and wife Korinna, Christian Hofer, Megan EisenVos and husband Dan, Justin Eisenbeis, Kennedy Mejia and husband Nico, and McKenzie Hofer. More recently, she was delighted to be blessed with a great-grandson, Javier Sanchez, and two great-granddaughters, Jadis Mejia and Melody Eisenbeis.

Darleen was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd D. Hofer; father John J. Richert; mother Audrey Sokolich; half-brother George “Sam” Sokolich; father- and mother-in-law, Jacob M. and Marie (Tschetter) Hofer; extended family members and dear friends.

Darleen’s cremains will be scattered at the Turkey Ridge Valley farm where her daughter now lives — the same farm she so loved as a child.

Undesignated memorials will be directed to Feeding South Dakota for ongoing efforts to ensure that no child should go hungry.