Darrel Parkhurst, 87, died August 10, 2016, at his home in Valentine, Nebraska.

He was born January 14, 1929, in Mason City, Nebraska, to LeRoy and Susan Parkhurst. His parents lived in Berwyne, Nebraska, at the time. He was a rancher and she was a housewife.
Darrel, with his family moved often, living in many small towns in Nebraska. Darrel worked constantly on ranches from his youth well into his adulthood.

Darrel met and married Colleen Lorraine Knudsen in Gordon, Nebraska, in 1950. This union produced five children; Gene, Patricia, Ken, Sharon and Tena. They lived in Gordon, Nebraska, for four years before moving to Valentine, Nebraska, in 1954, where they lived raising their family until Colleens passing in 1985.

Darrel married Carol Joyce Whipple in 1986, joining two families. Carol had four children from a previous marriage; Shelly, Keith, Bill and Duke. Darrel and Carol lived in Kilgore, Eli, Nenzel and Valentine during their 30 years of marriage.

His interests included family, playing cards, hunting coyotes and visiting. He devoted much of his time and energy as a caregiver to family members.

Darrel is survived by his second wife, Carol; brother, Don; sister Delores, two sons and their spouses, Gene and JoAnn Parkhurst, Ken and Christina Parkhurst; two daughters and their spouses, Tena and Wendell Wolff, Sharon and Rod Herrmann; two step-sons and spouse, Keith Waln, Duke Waln, Bill and Michelle Waln, and one step-daughter, Shelly Waln; and fifteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren and four great great-grandchildren.

Darrel was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Susan; first wife, Colleen; one child Patricia; one brother, Walt; and one sister, Darlene.

A memorial service was held Monday, August 15, 2016, at the United Methodist Church in Valentine, Nebraska, with interment at the cemetery in Kilgore, Nebraska.