DONALD DARNELL
Donald Darnell was born December 18, 1913, at Fairview, Kansas, the
son of George and Hester Hewitt Darnell. He attended schools in
Brown County, Kansas, and Knox County, Nebraska.
He married Eva Peterson in June 1936. They moved to Verdigre and Don
hauled cream for the Verdigre Creamery. Then for several years he
was employed by Langenfeld Studios, Carroll, Iowa, as an interior
decorator. Later he incorporated his own business firm under the
name of Darnell Studios.
Don and Eva had one son, Lyle Delbert Darnell, born living, at Carroll, Iowa. In Harlan, Iowa, June 4, 1965, Lyle married JoDene Halsey, daughter of Robert and Delpha Buffington Halsey. She
was born living, at Tilden, Nebraska. They live in Carthage,
South Dakota, and are the parents of three children: Stephanie Jo,
born living, who married Paul Rieck and they have a son,
Brian Paul Rieck, born living. Stacy Renae was born
living, and Brandon Wayne was born living.
Brandon Darnell is a sixth generation descendant of the pioneer,
William Darnell, and the only one to carry on the Darnell name.
The second marriage of Don Darnell was March 23, 1955, to Lorraine
Seeley. She died in 1958. They lived in South Dakota where Don
managed a fleet of gravel trucks and a motion picture theater.
Having farmed in Audubon County, Iowa, from 1941 to 1947, Don
returned to farming in the Verdigre area after he and Ruby Woodworth
Hazen were married on September 9, 1959. They moved from the farm
into town and took over the John Deere Implement Company in Verdigre.
In 1972 Garry Hazen joined in partnership and management. Don and
Ruby moved to Eagle Grove and assisted Don’s son, Lyle, in
establishing the corporation of Darnell Systems. They returned to
Nebraska, moving to Orchard following Don’s retirement.
Donald Darnell died March 16, 1977, and is buried in Greenwood
Cemetery, Creighton, Nebraska.
There are three step-children: Gail Hazen of Norfolk, Garry Hazen of
Verdigre, and Elaine Hazen Uhlir of O’Neill.
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