Darrell Foell, a lifelong resident of Peever, Sisseton, and Watertown, died on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Ecumen Evergreen Memory Care in Moorhead, MN. Darrell was 90 years old.

Graveside Service will be held on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. at the Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, SD with VA Chaplin Kate Bohmer officiating. Pallbearers will be David, Daniel, Dean, Darwin, Darrin, and Wayne Foell. Military Rites by Otto-Quande-Renville American Legion Post #50 and Fort Sisseton VFW Post #3342.

Darrell was born to Lewey and Louise (Simon) Foell on November 4, 1933, in Sisseton, SD. He attended grade school in Peever and Ontario, CA. He then attended high school in Sisseton, SD. He often told fond stories about the time he spent in California, but northeast South Dakota always was and forever would be his home.

Darrell enlisted in the Air Force in September of 1951. Following the completion of his Military training, he served in Korea and Del Rio, Texas as an aircraft weapons mechanic on various fighter aircraft. After his discharge from the Air Force, he returned to Sisseton to work on his family's farm.

On April 18, 1954, Darrell married Shirley Ellingson of Wilmot. After buying their own farm a short while later, Darrell and Shirley's family quickly grew with the addition of five boys in six years.

As each boy grew old enough, they were put to work on the farm. By working side by side with their parents. The boys learned many important life lessons that served them all very well throughout their lives with each of them becoming successful in their time and in their own way.

The most important lesson Darrell and the boys all learned through life on the family farm was that nobody was tougher, worked harder, loved more deeply, or laughed more joyfully than Shirley. She was and still is the one who held everyone together through good times and bad times for 70+ years, even as the inevitable march of time made Darrell and Shirley's lives more challenging. Darrell was both incredibly blessed and unbelievably fortunate to have found such a wonderful wife, and through him, his sons are equally blessed and fortunate to still have such a wonderful mother. (Thank you. Both).

Darrell was an active member of the VFW having served in all offices of the Sisseton Post as well as having been the Post Quartermaster for 21 years. He also served as District Commander and as Chief of Staff of the State VFW. In addition, Darrell won multiple awards for his work as Post Commander and Post Quartermaster. He took great pride in the work he did with the VFW.

Darrell and Shirley operated a successful farming and dairy operation near Peever for several decades before selling their farm and moving to Watertown in retirement. They were both blessed with and thankful for their many good friends and neighbors over the years. Their boys are especially thankful for the friends and neighbors who looked out for them in their later years on the farm and in their retirement years in Watertown.

Darrell is survived by his wife, Shirley; five sons, David (Debra) Foell of Georgia, Daniel (Lori) Foell of Watertown, SD, Dean (LaVonne Voller Parsons) Foell of Fargo, ND, Darwin (Sharon) Foell of West Virginia, and Darrin (Darcie Bontje) Foell of Sioux Falls, SD; thirteen grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Darrell is preceded in death by his parents; his sister Darlyne Brown and one great granddaughter, Madeline.