Darline Sherry Thompson, 99, went to her heavenly home Saturday, June 27, 2026 at Good Samaritan Society in Wagner. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, July 6 at 2:00 p.m. at Armour Community Church. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorials be given in her memory. 

Darline Sherry Thompson was born on April 7, 1927, in Armour, South Dakota, the youngest daughter of James and Ruth (Taylor) McDonald. She grew up in Armour, attended Armour High School, and was baptized on March 28, 1945, at the Armour Community Church.

On October 28, 1945, Darline married the love of her life, John “Johnny” Thompson Jr. Together they began their married life on a farm along the Geddes Road before making their home in Armour. Johnny worked on the construction of the Fort Randall Dam in Pickstown before returning to Armour, where he became a well-known and respected mechanic, especially recognized for his work on 1955 Chevrolets and many other vehicles.

Darline had a strong work ethic and a servant’s heart. Early in life, she worked at the Coast to Coast Store in Armour, where one of her jobs was assembling bicycles. She later dedicated nearly 30 years to caring for others as a nurses’ aide at the Armour Hospital and also spent a short time working in the hospital’s physical therapy department. Her kindness, compassion, and gentle care touched the lives of many patients and their families.

Faith and community were important parts of Darline’s life. She was a faithful member of the Armour Congregational Church and its Ladies Aid, a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and a longtime blood donor, always willing to help others whenever she could.

Outside of work, Darline found great joy in tending to her flowers and garden. A self-taught master gardener, she was known for raising an impressive garden each year and took pride in sharing the beauty of her hard work. In her later years, one of her favorite daily outings was a trip to the post office. It became much more than a place to pick up the mail,it was where she caught up with friends, shared hugs, laughter, and conversation, and stayed connected to the community she loved so dearly.

Above all, Darline cherished her family. She was grateful for the time spent together and the many memories created through the years. Her warmth, generous spirit, and caring heart will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by all who knew her.

Darline is survived by her daughters, Sandra Gordon of Armour, South Dakota and Patsy Amundson of Sloan, Iowa; her son, James Thompson of Phoenix, Arizona; her grandchildren, Nick, Melisa, Jason, Michelle, Denise, Joshua, Jennifer, Marjorie, Tammy, and Stacey; her 14 great-grandchildren; and her 4 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John “Johnny” Thompson Jr.; her parents, James and Ruth McDonald; her son, Terry Thompson; her daughter, Debby Leichtnam; her infant brother, James Darrold McDonald; her brother, Donald “Mack” McDonald; her sister, Doris (Walt) Herrig; her grandson, Johnny Amundson; and her sons-in-law, Stan Gordon and John Amundson.