Brian Lynn Darnall, age 76, was born to Lloyd & Maxine (Swanson) Darnall in Elmhurst, IL on September 9th, 1949. He passed away on March 30th, 2026, surrounded by his family at the Brookings, SD Hospital after a 12-year journey of perseverance with his health. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, with a Visitation starting at 9:30 am at First United Methodist Church in Brookings, SD. Interment will be held at a later date.

At the age of 10, Brian moved to Brookings with his parents and two younger sisters, Sherry (Dave) and Wendy (Roger). They moved into the family home in their beloved neighborhood on Legeros Drive. He and the neighborhood kids hit it off and started causing trouble right away, including attending a horror movie from which they ran home in the dark.

Brian graduated from Brookings High School in 1967 and made his way south to Vermillion to attend the University of South Dakota. This is where he first met his lifelong friends, Dr. Rick Holm and Dick Hakes, among many other special friends in his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha. He graduated from USD School of Business in 1971 and went directly into the business world at Medary Acres Greenhouse with his friend, Jean Mehegan. The greenhouse quickly became his legacy in the community, spanning numerous decades and cultivating more friendships than he could count.

He met the love of his life, Lynn (Lokkeberg), in January 1978 and were married at their home in 1984. They loved to travel all over the world with friends and family alike, belly laughing and making memories to last a lifetime.

The pride and joy in his life were his daughters, Samantha and Sarah. He was present throughout their lives at dance concerts, ice skating competitions, band concerts, graduations, starting new jobs, and weddings. Over the last decade, Brian gained two amazing sons-in-law, Tyler (Samantha) Werlinger and Micky (Sarah) Alfano, with whom he loved to spend his time and pass on his many facets of knowledge. He was delighted by the births of his granddaughter, Ariya, and his grandson, Sal, both in 2025.

His many hobbies included riding motorcycle all over the Midwest, collecting vintage cars, hunting, poker with his favorite gang of guys, and spending time sailing with his sailing club and second family, the Holms, particularly on their catamaran, Luffing Out Loud. No one loved to tinker or find a deal more than Brian. His family and friends will carry on these tricks of the trade until the end of our days.

The family would like to sincerely thank Sanford Oncology for their years of loving care, gifting us 12 more years with this amazing man. At the end of his life, he received excellent care at the Avera ICU in Sioux Falls, the Neighborhoods, and the Avera Emergency Room here in Brookings, for which we will be forever grateful.

He leaves behind many great friends, some of which he met when he moved to Brookings in the 1950’s, and many of whom he met through his work and hobbies. He also leaves behind many special nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and in-laws, all of whom will remember Brian by his big smile and warm embrace.