A. Darline (Minshall) Blake

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, Corkie (Tony) Fox of Bassett; son-in-law Kent Croghan of Bassett; sister Ellie Gartin of Omaha, NE; 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; along with many other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services were held Thursday, February 8, 2024 at St Peter Lutheran Church in Bassett, NE, officiated by Pastor Wayne Owens. Music was provided by Faye Smith with the CD Selections of “Grandma’s Love” by Mark Yakanama, “Angels Among Us” by Alabama, and “The Old Rugged Cross” by Alan Jackson being played. An original poem was read by Rick Buoy. Casketbearers were Chad Hollenbeck, Kyndra Hollenbeck, Justin Anderson, Travis Anderson, Cody Croghan, Heath Croghan, Trent Walz, Brandi Tolle, Blake “BJ” Fox, Amber Chmelik, Kirby Fox, Lanny Walz, Cole Fox. Interment followed in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials were suggested to the Rock County Ambulance Association in Darline’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett was in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com