Darlene Schulz, age 71, died Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at her home at White, South Dakota. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016, at the United Methodist Church in White. Visitations will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated to the Fairview Cemetery Association.

Darlene Frieda (Simmons) Schulz was born January 8, 1945, at Brookings, South Dakota, to Russell and Genevieve (Halstead) Simmons. She grew up on the family farm two miles south and two miles east of White. She attended Sherman District No. 105 for the first eight grades and graduated from White High School in 1963. She attended Omaha Business School the summer of 1963 and graduated in September.

On October 12, 1963, she married Jeff Schulz. They moved to California where Darlene was employed by Dial Finance and Surety in Bellflower. They moved back to White in the spring of 1965. They purchased the Vern Welch home one half mile south and one half mile east of White in 1969. She was employed at First Bank in White for 19 years, and was also the bookkeeper for Jeff's television store. She drove a Deubrook school bus for several years for Russell Hicks.

Darlene was an active member of the United Methodist Church in White since 1961.   She served in various church offices, and as the church organist, playing for more than 40 weddings and 250 funerals. She was a member and treasurer of the White Area Historical Society. She served as a Den Mother with the Cub Scouts, and accompanied students for music contests.

Family times were the most memorable. Darlene found great joy in watching Chad, Boyd, and Rodd grow up to become adults with their own families. Her grandchildren brought special moments to her life. All the Schulz reunions were anticipated each year by her family. Special friends they spent many hours with brought many wonderful times.

Survivors include her husband, Jeff Schulz, of White; three sons: Chad (Jolene) Schulz of White, Boyd (Andrea) Schulz of Brookings, and Rodd (Nicole) Schulz of White; eight grandchildren: Cody, Casey, and Jackie; Piper and Carter; and Tyrus, Tenley, and Trevyn; and a sister, Joyce (Mike) Stegeman of White. She was preceded in death by her parents; a nephew, Derrick Stegeman; and a brother-in-law, Vern Whaley.