Ora Darlene Hoffman, 88, of Scottsbluff, passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at Emerald Court in Scottsbluff. Her funeral service will be held at 1pm on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the Morrill Church of Christ with LD Alderson and Kris Mickey officiating. Interment will precede services at Mitchell City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday at Jones Mortuary in Mitchell from 3-6pm. It is respectfully requested that memorials in Darlene’s honor be made in care of the church or Emerald Court. Online condolences may be made by viewing Darlene’s memorial page at www.jones-mortuary.com.
Ora Darlene Wickard was born April 18, 1935, in Mitchell, NE to Frank and Bernice (Reynolds) Wickard. Her brother, “Bub”, and sister, Shirl, along with her parents were the most important people in her life. She thought the world of the Wickard family including all her aunts, uncles, and cousins and their families. The family lived in the Minatare area, but during the war they moved to Richmond, CA where her father worked in the shipyards. Darlene loved growing up in Minatare near her relatives and shared stories of the great times she had there.
Darlene attended school in both California and Minatare. During her school years, she participated in various activities, including Job Daughters, where she was Honored Queen of the Minatare Bethel, Pep Club, Pow Wow Club, Chorus, County Government, Class Attendant, One Acts, and Class Plays, graduating with the class of 1953.
After graduation, she was united in marriage to Ronald Hoffman. Ronald and Darlene were married for 69 years, from this union three children were born: Ronda, Steven and Lanna.
The family lived and farmed in the Minatare/Bayard area, before settling in the Morrill/Mitchell area of Dutch Flats.
Throughout the years Darlene enjoyed bowling league, lake life, which included boating, sunbathing and skiing. Summer mornings, when her kids were little, she would pack them up and head for the lake. For many years Darlene and Ronald enjoyed playing cards weekly with Ronald’s family. Although it wasn’t her favorite thing to do, she did work on the farm as needed, hoeing, and driving truck during harvest. She didn’t mind going for parts because that meant she got to go to town. When in town she stopped for a tastee at Tom & Jerry’s or onion rings at The Dash Inn. Darlene traveled with family and close friends. Some of her most memorable trips were to Lake Powell, Hawaii, California, Texas and cruises. However, South Dakota and the Black Hills was her favorite place to visit. She loved horses, dogs, and a few special cats. Darlene looked forward to organizing class reunions because she enjoyed spending time with old classmates from her high school years. She was also a past member of the Saddle Club and The Dutch Flats Ladies Club.
After Ronald retired, they moved to Mitchell, where Darlene enjoyed working in her large yard tending to flowerbeds, yellow roses, vegetable gardens and trees. Antique refinishing and crafts, reading, studying and watching her favorite Christian and political shows and chasing grandkids kept her quite busy. Darlene read every newspaper she could find and if she knew you, she would clip out the article and/or picture that you were in and save it. She liked being in town and remained there until her move to Emerald Court.
Darlene enjoyed her children and grandchildren’s activities and athletic events. She was a great fan and was often teased by Ronald that she had to be there so early that she might as well just dress with the team. Grandchildren include Ty Reuter, Dani Gardner, Lyndsie Ramirez, Hayley Medina, Kenna Urwiller, Kayle Loutzenhiser, Kylor Hoffman, Kelsey Kuxhausen, Keelyn Carlson and Kaden Hubbard. Her grandchildren believe that she made the best fried eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, fried Indian bread, decorated Holiday sugar cookies and the BEST chocolate cake you could ever eat! Although she did enjoy her own very special chocolate cake, she was best known for drinking Sprite and eating York Peppermint Patties for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Darlene attended and was baptized at Minatare Church of Christ. When the family moved in 1969 to the Morrill/Mitchell area she began attending the Morrill Church of Christ. She served in the church by teaching Sunday and Vacation Bible School, working in the kitchen and until her move to Emerald Court prepared communion each week. She loved the time she spent at Wednesday Night Bible Study with church family.
Darlene is survived by her three children, Ronda Reuter (Ron) of Mitchell, Steven Hoffman (Carla) of Morrill, and Lanna Hubbard (Doug) of Mitchell; brother-in-law, Charles Young, of Montrose, CO; Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law, Larry and Debbie Steinbrecher, of Kearney, NE;
10 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; God son, David Hoffman of Gering; Cousin, Doris “Dode” Nuss of Minatare; numerous nieces and nephews.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Bernice Wickard, husband, Ronald Hoffman, brother, Lionel “Bub” Wickard and sister, Shirley Young.
Throughout Darlene’s life she would always end her visits with you by saying, “Now You Be Careful”!