Darleen Minnie (Weeldreyer) Cuppy, age 93, of Wessington Springs, SD, passed away surrounded by her family at Weskota Manor during the early morning hours of Friday, July 31, 2026, after a beautiful life filled with faith, family, friendship, and service. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the Wessington Springs Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memory Gardens near Huron. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Monday, also at the church, with a prayer service beginning at 7.
Darleen was born on a stormy winter night, February 1, 1933, at her family home near Alpena, SD, to Mike and Minnie (Wagner) Weeldreyer. She entered the world alongside her twin sister, Marleen, as the sixth and seventh children in what would become a family of ten. Family lore tells that because of the bitter winter cold, the newborn twins were placed in bread pans on the open oven door to keep them warm. It was a humble beginning for a woman whose life would go on to warm the hearts of everyone she met.
On October 25, 1951, Darleen married her first and only love, Howard Francis Cuppy, at Templeton United Church of Christ near Wessington Springs. Together they shared nearly 60 wonderful years of marriage before Howard’s passing. Their marriage was a beautiful example of enduring love, filled with laughter, playful teasing, and unwavering devotion. Together they built a remarkable family that became their greatest joy and proudest accomplishment.
Above everything else, Darleen loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family was the center of her world. Together, she and Howard were blessed with eight children, 24 grandchildren, and 55 greatgrandchildren — a legacy of love that brought them immeasurable joy. Mom and Dad often reminded us that there was “not a bummer in the bunch.”
If there was one word that described Darleen’s life, it was love. She loved Jesus, she loved Howard, she loved her family, she loved children, she loved her church, she loved her community, and she loved celebrating the lives of others. Her faith was the foundation of her life. A devoted member of the United Church of Christ, Darleen faithfully taught preschool Sunday School for more than 20 years, introducing generations of young children to God’s love with patience, gentleness, and joy. She was an active member and officer of the Ladies Circle and the Sing Sew Extension Club, where lifelong friendships were formed through fellowship and service. She carefully preserved those precious memories in beautifully crafted scrapbooks, ensuring the stories of these remarkable women would never be forgotten.
For decades, Darleen also opened her home to care for children. To many families, she wasn’t simply a babysitter — she was lovingly known as “Auntie Dar,” another grandma, another hug, and another safe place. She delighted in watching children learn and grow, and countless lives were made richer because of her loving care.
She had a gift for making every occasion special. A talented cake decorator, Darleen created countless beautiful cakes for birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and every celebration in between. Every Valentine’s Day while her children were in elementary school, she lovingly baked and decorated cakes for each of their teachers as a heartfelt way of saying thank you. Her cake boards, cheerfully labeled, “Please Return to Mrs. Howard Cuppy,” are still making the rounds today — a sweet reminder of her generosity and the many celebrations she helped make unforgettable.
Darleen also found great joy in sharing the stories of everyday life. For more than 50 years, she proudly penned the Foothills News column for the True Dakotan, affectionately known as “Cuppy’s Corner.” Week after week, she chronicled the happenings of family, friends, neighbors, and the Foothills community with warmth, wit, and genuine affection. She delighted in hearing from faithful readers across South Dakota and throughout the United States who looked forward to catching up on the Cuppy family’s adventures and the comings and goings of the community she loved. She had a remarkable way of finding joy in everyday moments and preserving them for generations to come. She rarely missed an opportunity to capture life’s memories with her camera. Family members learned to be patient because before any picture was taken, Mom would smile and say she “needed a little lipstick.” Those photographs have become treasured keepsakes, preserving the countless moments she never wanted anyone to forget.
A true sports enthusiast, Darleen was a fixture in the stands cheering on her beloved Spartans and Owls. Alongside Howard, she logged many miles following their teams and faithfully kept scorebooks, programs, and statistics from countless games. She was an avid Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan and treasured the opportunity to attend the 1987 World Series, where she watched the Twins win their first World Series championship. Today, Howard and Darleen’s names are permanently engraved on one of the stone monuments outside Target Field — a fitting tribute to two people whose love for sports was matched only by their love for each other.
Mourning her loss are her children: Cheryl (Craig) VanAsperen of Huron, SD; Darryl (Nancy) Cuppy of Harrold, SD; Don (Susie) Cuppy of Mitchell, SD; Connie (Jeff) Theurer of Rosemount, MN; Carol (Jeff) Collins of Castlewood, SD; Cindy (Fred) Zenk of Webster, SD; Candi (Leon) Sails of Wessington Springs, SD; and Cathy Cuppy White of Sioux Falls, SD; her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren; two sisters; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and dear friends.
Welcoming her into Heaven were her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; her beloved husband, Howard; her parents; her grandson, Derek Zenk; her great-grandsons, Brayden Fruechte and Prince Sails; son-in-law, Randy Bell; five brothers; two sisters; and many loved ones who had gone before her.
Whether you knew her as Mom, Grandma Dar, Great-Grandma Dar, Auntie Dar, Sunday School teacher, columnist, cake decorator, loyal fan in the stands, or simply a faithful friend, Darleen had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel welcomed, remembered, and loved.
Darleen’s legacy is found not only in the family she cherished but in every child she taught, every cake she decorated, every story she wrote, every scrapbook she created, every game she cheered, every picture she took, and every life she quietly touched with kindness.
A life measured by love is a life well lived. Darleen’s was exactly that.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:23 In lieu of memorials, donations may be made to the Weeldreyer Scholarship in Darleen’s memory. Memorials may be mailed to American Bank & Trust, 120 Main St. E., Wessington Springs, SD 57382.