Darlene Keefe

On August 11, 2025 at about 8 pm, Darlene Keefe passed peacefully into heaven at the Monument Hospice House.  She joined Pat, the love of her life, and many family and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Friday, August 15, 2025 at Knollwood Heights United Methodist Church, with Pastor Sharla McCaskell presiding.  Visitation begins at 10:00.  Lunch to follow the service at the church.  Casual Dress is requested.

Interment will be at 1:00 pm Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the Faulkton Cemetery with Pastor Bennett Clough presiding.  Coffee and treats will be served afterwards at the United Church of Faulkton.

Darlene was born April 24, 1934 in Faulkton South Dakota, the 7th of 10 children to Clara (Paulson) & Carl “Ed” Holmberg.  She grew up on the farm south of Faulkton, SD.  She attended the one room Tamworth School, grades 1-4, then Faulkton Schools, where she graduated class Valedictorian in 1952.  That summer she attended Northern State Teacher College in Aberdeen and returned to Faulkton that fall to teach at the Tamworth School.

Darlene met Pat Keefe, as a freshman in high school, and were together until he passed away.  In November 1952, they married and lived on the farm until 1953 when Pat was drafted into the Army.  They soon moved to Ft. Monmouth, NJ, where she rode the train to work for Consolidated Laundry as a bookkeeper.  They stayed in NJ until Pat’s discharge from the Army.

Back in Faulkton in 1954, Darlene worked at Gebhard Machine, the Faulk County Treasurer’s Office, and then for the Faulk County Sheriff as a clerk.  She was soon sworn in as one of the first female deputy sheriffs in South Dakota, making one arrest in her career.

In 1962 Darlene and Pat moved to Rapid City.  She interviewed for an office position at Tri-State Milling on a Friday and started Monday morning.  She continued there through several owners, Tri-State, Hubbard, Dakota Mill & Grain, and Conagra.  She was a receptionist, bookkeeper, office manager, and after retirement a part-time receptionist answering phones to the great delight of customers.

In 1964, Darlene became a mom when Wayne was born.  In 1974 the family moved to Deadwood, where she worked at the treasurer’s office, then later the Lead-Deadwood High School.  In 1976 they moved back to Rapid City and bought a house where she remained until her death.  

Darlene was actively involved in many clubs and organizations.  She enjoyed singing, quilting, tending flowers, snowmobiling, year around camping, the lake, dancing, bowling, puzzles, and playing cards with friends.  She’d help anyone in need with homework, was an excellent cook, and often credited her mom for this.  She was famous for her chocolate chip cookies, becoming known as “The Cookie Grandma” to many RCFD firefighters.  She was at times called “The General” for demanding things be done her way.  Surviving three different fights with cancer, she kicked cancer’s butt and kept going.  About the only negative statement she ever said was: “Sh*tamarooski!” 

Darlene smiled most of the time anyway, but even more when grandchildren came into her life.  She loved them all greatly and loved making cookies with them!   “Kids are ok, but grandkids are just a little better!”  One can only imagine how much great-grandkids meant to her! 

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband Patrick Keefe, parents Clara and Ed Holmberg, sister Betty Hoelscher, sister Clarice Holmberg, brother Clarence Holmberg, sister Carol Goldstein, sister Doris Miller, sister Marilyn Connell, brother Charles Holmberg, and sister Sandra Holmberg. 

She is survived by her son, Wayne (Melinda) Keefe; granddaughter, Laura Johnson; grandson, Marshall (Andrea) Keefe; granddaughters Erika Akers and Britney Akers; great-grandson, Colter Johnson; great-granddaughters, Kenleigh Johnson, Evelyn Keefe, and Clara Keefe; sister, Sharron Bramblee; close nephew, David (Karen) Bramblee; and close niece, Gail (Rob Bird) Goldstein.

A very special THANK YOU to the staff at Monument Health Home Hospice, and to the staff at the Hospice House!  The care, kindness, and compassion they all had was exemplary in every way!

Friends and family are welcome to sign the online guestbook.

Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City (www.kirkfuneralhome.com)  and Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton (www.familyfuneralhome.net) have been entrusted with Darlene’s arrangements.