A. Darline Blake, 91

Agnes “Darline” (Minshall) Blake died peacefully at her home in Bassett, NE on February 3, 2024 at the age of 91 years. Darline was born in Rock County, NE on April 30, 1932 to Walter “Guy” Minshall and Agnes (Kleckner) Minshall.

Darline was the oldest daughter of the seven Minshall children. Her childhood was spent helping her mother with the house and caring for her younger siblings. Growing up during the Great Depression of the 30s meant moving from town to town and job to job with her family in an old Nash Rambler. During that time they lived in many places ranging from a “tar paper shack” along the banks of the Missouri River, a tenant house on a tobacco farm and several Nebraska towns including Omaha, until eventually returning to Rock County, where Darline would spend the rest of her life.

As a teenager Darline attended Rock County High School and stayed in the girls’ dormitory during the week. She met her future husband Clyde Blake, when he stopped to pick up his sister Faye (Blake) Buoy from there. Their first date was a surprise ride in his new airplane.

Clyde and Darline were married December 10, 1950 in the Brown County Courthouse in Ainsworth, NE. The next ten years were spent welcoming six daughters into the world, Connie Lee 1951, Linda Lou 1952, Sharon Faye 1954, Deborah June 1955, Vickie Lynn 1958 and Yvonne “Corkie” Kay 1959. Days on the ranch consisted of helping Clyde, caring for her daughters, tending the house and flowers, and countless hours at her sewing machine creating beautiful clothes for her daughters.

In 1994 Clyde and Darline moved from the ranch into Bassett where she lived until her peaceful death, surrounded by loved ones.

Darline was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clyde; daughters, Deborah Blake and Sharon (Blake) Croghan; brothers, Lee, Bud, Bob and Jim; sister, Donna Vanderbeek; son-in-law, Roger Hollenbeck; and numerous other relatives.

Darline is survived by daughters, Connie Hollenbeck (Jim Hanna) of Mullen, NE, Linda (Ray) Maas of Plattsburg, MO, Vickie (Paul) Walz of Valentine, NE, and Corkie (Tony) Fox of Bassett; son-in-law, Kent Croghan of Bassett; sister, Ellie Gartin of Omaha, NE; 13 grandchildren, 23 greatgrandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; along with many other relatives and friends.