C. Darrel Haskell

Private family services for Darrel Haskell of Watertown and formerly of Conde will be 1:00 p.m., Monday, December 28th at Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.  Rev. Eldon Reich will officiate.  Burial with military honors will follow in the Conde City Cemetery.   Services will also be live streamed at GDILIVE.COM

Visitation will be held for one hour prior to services.

Darrel passed away December 23, 2020 at Avantara Watertown.

Charles Darrel Haskell was born in Conde, S.D. on Jan. 8, 1931. He was the son of Adelbert and Lucy Haskell. He attended rural school for 3 years, then moved to Conde with his family. He graduated from Conde High School in 1949. He was active in many sports and extracurricular activities. Darrel was a prominent member of the 1950 Conde Independent baseball team that took second place at the state tournament in Watertown, SD, which now has been featured on a recent documentary. He attended SDSU in Brookings from 1949-1951.

On Jan. 27, 1952 he was united in marriage to Joyce Wolner at the Conde United Methodist Church. On Feb. 3, 1952 he left South Dakota to serve in the United States Army during the Korean War. He took his basic training and attended leadership school with the 101 Airborne in Breckenridge, KY. He then was shipped overseas to Germany where he served with Hdq. Co. of the 169th Infantry Regiment. 43rd Division for 16 months.

He returned to Conde in 1954 and began farming with his wife. He helped with the family Ford and John Deere dealerships and trucking business. From 1965-1969 he phased out the businesses after the death of his father and devoted his time to farming, his family and his faith.

Darrel was active in his community, serving on the Conde School Board, the Conde Civic Development Association, the Farmers Elevator Board, Aberdeen Toastmaster Club, the Benton-Beotia Busy Beavers 4-H Club and bowling and card clubs. He was especially active in the United Methodist Church of Conde and later the United Methodist Church of Aberdeen, regularly attending Sunday School and services with his wife. He was a life member of the Redfield VFW and a past Chef de Gare of Voiture 146 40 et 8 of Aberdeen.

His passion of patriotism was being a life member of the Donald A. Lewis Post 148 American Legion in Conde, where he was twice commander, and the Editor and Publisher of the Post 148 News for twenty-five years. He served as State Historian from 1979-1981 and as President of the South Dakota American Legion Press Association for three terms. He served the NALPA as President in 1996-1997.

Darrel served the American Legion and became State commander in 1985-1986, and went on to be the National Vice Commander in 1995-1996. He represented the American Legion at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day 1996 and he and his wife were invited to the White House for a breakfast reception hosted by President Bill Clinton.

He enjoyed traveling with his wife throughout the United States, Europe and the far east. Many trips were taken with his wife, family and grandchildren. He was supportive of his five children in their various vocations and enjoyed the achievements of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. In recent years Darrel lived a full life spending time with his family; going to the family lake cabin, enjoying fish fry’s, Friday happy hours, and Sunday dinners. He attended weekly Church, grandchildren’s events, Thursday night lives and annual pheasant openers.

He will be remembered for his generosity, kind heart, and strong work ethic that will live on through all the lives he touched.

Celebrating his life are two sons Curtis (Cindy), Conde; David, Sioux Falls; his three daughters Sandra (Gene) Fernen, Aberdeen; Debra (Dale) Schoenefeld, Watertown; Linda (Rob) Sherman, Excelsior Springs, Missouri; 13 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and one sister, Marilyn Rahn, Sioux Falls. Proceeding him in death were his parents, wife, and two grandsons.

Casket bearers will be his grandsons Brandon Schlosser, John Haskell, Ryan Schoenefeld, Brett Schoenefeld: grnddaughters Kimberly Schlosser, Krista Oleson: great-grandsons Dexter, Tristyn, and Hayden Lick. Honorary casket bearers will be all his other grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to Debra Schoenefeld, 1374 4th Street NW, Watertown, SD 57201.

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