Darlene J. Hutchinson

WHITE RIVER - Darlene Joyce Green Hutchinson, 78, rural White River, passed away Friday, May 20, 2011, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Darlene was born July 28, 1932, to Everett Green and Fern Ulrich Green at their ranch home north of White River. Growing, up, Darlene and her siblings were raised on the Everett Green ranch and attended Cottonwood Rural School. She graduated from White River High School in May of 1949 and united in marriage to Larry Hutchinson at the United Methodist Church on Aug. 7, 1949. They started their life together on the Hutchinson Ranch north of town. They were blessed with five sons who kept her very busy and helped her with work on the ranch, milking cows, raising chickens and keeping a large garden for her family.

Some of her many enjoyments were riding horses, cooking, reading, crocheting and knitting. She loved to travel and took advantage of opportunities to travel to exotic places along with visiting family and friends; Darlene was active in Rebekah's, the United Methodist Church and UMW. With all this activity the boys were always her first concern. There were always many friends and relatives who spent time at the ranch; many of these were the boy's friends and cousins. Darlene never knew how many might show up for breakfast in the mornings but she was always prepared.

As the boys married she welcomed the daughters-in-law into the family and made them feel that she was their friend. As her grandkids came along she delighted in the different personalities of each one and enjoyed their activities and having them around. When the grandkids were at her house there was always the agreement that "what happened at grandma's stayed at grandma's."

Darlene was always a very loving wife to Larry, mother, grandmother and also a stand-in mother to many boys that came to her home. She was strongly devoted to her family and God. She enjoyed reading her Bible and practiced what she believed.

She is survived by her husband, Larry; five sons, Randy of Rapid City, Barry (Micki) of Timber Lake, Bob (Carol) of White River, Bill (Chris) of White River, and Ron of Valentine, Neb.; 12 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and her siblings, Everett (Arlie) Green, Gene, and Alan (Sandy), all of White River, Bob (Molly) Green of Bellingham, Wash., and Jeanette (Gary) Cline of North Platte, Neb.

Remembering her with in-law's special affection are Linda Deiss, Mary Krogman and Devota Hutchinson of White River, and Dr. Roger (Betsie) Hutchinson of Colorado. She will also be greatly missed by a host of friends and former classmates.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fern and Everett Green; her grandparents, Levi and Olive Green and Amandus and Callie Ulrich; and her sister, Marguerite (Joe) Oyler.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 27, at the United Methodist Church in White River.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorials can be designated to the United Methodist Church in White River or the Arthritis Foundation.

Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine is in charge of arrangements.