| “Little Nancy” Nancy Mae Darnell was born in Miller, South Dakota on May 12, 1936 and passed away on April 13, 2021. She was 84 years young. She spent her childhood in the Miller area. While attending Miller High School, she met and later married her beloved husband Bill (aka Ken). They married in March 1954 and were together more than 60 years before Bill passed away in 2015. She and Bill lived in Japan, South Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, and eventually settled in Mesa, Arizona permanently in 2014. Nancy retired after 20 years with the US Postal Service having attained the position of Postmaster in Idaho Springs, Colorado. She later worked for the Colorado Central Station Casino for several years before “retiring” a second time. She then went on to work joyfully for the activity office at Orangewood Shadows Park in Mesa where her smile and kind words to all made her a beloved asset to the park where they lovingly named her “Little Nancy”. She enjoyed playing cards, reading, and biking with her dear friend Carol and she definitely doted on her children. Nancy is preceded in death by her parents Gertrude A. (Pawlovich) Johnson and Fred Johnson, her husband Bill, her daughter Millie Ann Hall. She is survived by daughter Denise Deese of Mesa, AZ; son Bill Darnell, Jr of Wheatridge, CO; 3 sisters: Millie Rogers of Miller, SD; Debbie Sherman of Yellville, AR; Jerri Lynn Barnes of Hickory Creek, TX; six grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild. |
1 responses to Nancy Darnell
Kathy Eckert says:
May 7, 2021
Denise and family,
I truly loved your mom. She was always the first one I saw when I would get to Arizona and she always made me feel so welcome. Loved playing cards with her and spending time with her. She will be truly missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. God bless! Kathy