Darlene Finch, age 90, passed away peacefully at her home on November 27, 2023.
Joan Darlene was born on December 2, 1932 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Alliance, NE to George and Hilda (Sorensen) McElheny. She attended Alliance schools and graduated in 1951. While in school she received state awards in shorthand.
Darlene was united in marriage to Russell Finch on July 26, 1951 in the Presbyterian Church in Alliance. After marriage, Russ and Darlene lived in Alliance for two years and Russ worked for Gulf Research out of high school and Darlene worked as a telephone operator. In 1953, Russell was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan. During this time, Darlene worked as a telephone operator and lived with her mother-in-law, Dorothy Barton. After his military service, Russell returned and they lived in Chimney Town. Their first child, Scott, was born in 1956. Their daughter, Rhonda, was born the following year. At this time, Darlene worked at the credit bureau and in operation of Russell's and her own business, Kidnapper Manufacturing in 1968. She managed this business for the next 31 years, during which time they employed many high school students. In 1992, they ventured into a new business, Greenhouse in the Snow. She retired around 2105. In her spare time, they enjoyed traveling throughout almost every state in the nation. She also liked spending time with her grandkids, friends, gardening and interior decorating.
Survivors include her husband, Russell; her daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda and Carl Smith of Fairchild, WI; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Trent and his wife, Nichole Smith, and their tow children, Clair and Leah of Fond du Lac, WI; granddaughter, Tasha Newton and her husband, Kyle, and their children, Olivier and Dorothy of Fall Creek, WI.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Scott, and one brother and two sisters.
Memorial services will be on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at St. John's United Lutheran Church, 2090 Emerson Avenue in Alliance, NE with Pastor Megan Morrow officiating. Interment at the Nebraska Veteran's Cemetery will be at a later date. Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to the St. John's Greenhouse in the Snow.