Darla D. Welk

Darla Welk, 88, of Miller, passed away Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Miller, with her family at her side.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church, Miller, with Rev. Allison Galbreath officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, Miller.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the funeral.

Darla, the daughter of Willard and Margaret (Palmer) Lewellen, was born on March 4, 1938, in Truman, Minnesota. Darla was the second of three children, joining her brother Ernest. Nine years later, a brother, Greg, was born.

Darla’s family moved various times throughout her childhood. Her family moved from Truman, Minnesota, to Bird Island, Minnesota. The family also moved to California, where her parents worked in the defense plant during World War II. Her Grandmother came to California to bring the children to Miller SD; she was worried that they would get hurt or something would happen to them.

When Darla was five, a great aunt took them by train to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be with their parents. Darla went to first grade in Tulsa, then they moved to Broken Arrow, where she attended second grade. The family moved back to Miller, SD, when she was in the third grade. Darla graduated from Miller High School in 1956.

While Darla was living and working in Redfield, SD, she met Arthur Welk, and they married on October 27, 1957. They moved several times during their marriage; they settled in Fort Pierre, SD. Art and Darla divorced in 1971. Fort Pierre was home and is where Darla raised her four children. Darla moved to Miller in 1982.

Darla enjoyed sewing, crocheting, embroidering, and gardening. She made too many afghan blankets to count. She enjoyed giving them away to those that she loved and had a special place in her heart. Darla was a member of the United Methodist Church in Miller, SD.

Darla was a hard worker; she worked as a nurse’s aide, an X-ray aide, and owned her own business (The Alley- a popular fast-food restaurant, laundromat, & car wash). After retiring from being a business owner, Darla babysat Dalton and Leah Baloun’s children: Tegan, Tristen, Tucker, and Tia from the time they were born until they started school. The Baloun family continued to be part of Darla’s life. A special bond has been formed with the family. They are considered part of Darla’s family.

Darla is survived by her two sons, Clayton Welk of Miller, SD, and  Bryon (Margaret) Welk, of North Platte, NE; her two daughters, Fay (Brad) Manning of Miller, SD, and Charlene (Todd) Tilden of Canton, SD; grandchildren: Jay (Tandra) Welk, Jennifer (Nathan) Thyen, Elizabeth (Trent) Steptoe, Mandy (Paul) Tierney, Christen (Seth) Coyle, Kristopher (Misty) Manning, Matthew Powell, Justin Powell, and Bailey Tilden (fiancé Sam Gehl); 24 great grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren; her brother, Greg (Karen) Lewellen of Burnsville, MN; sister-in-law, Alona Lewellen of Miller SD; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Darla was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Ernest; granddaughter, Amy Manning; grandsons, Daniel Powell and Seth Welk.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to her caregivers at Good Samaritan Society for the compassionate care they gave Darla.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Darla’s arrangements.