Darold H. Couch, age 99, formerly of Wessington Springs, passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at Sanford Hospice in Fargo, ND, after a short illness. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Burial followed at Hope Cemetery. Visitation was from 4 - 6 p.m., Friday, also at the church.
Darold was born on January 18, 1925, in Royal, NE, to Johnny and Lily (Frahm) Couch. Darold was the second of three children. He was Baptized and confirmed in the Zion Lutheran church in Orchard, NE. He graduated from high school in the spring of 1942 from Royal, NE. Darold enrolled and attended Wayne State College in Wayne, NE in the fall of 1942.
On November 27, 1942, at the age of 17 years and 10 months, Darold enlisted in the army just two days after his older brother Lawrence. Darold and his brother entered the service and attended basic training together. During his years in the military, Darold was in the eastern theater of operations until Germany surrendered, he then returned home and was sent to the pacific theater until the war ended.
After returning home from the war, Darold met Lela Rothchild and they were married in Orchard, NE, on August 25, 1946. To this union five children were born Leta Faye, Darold Dean (DD), Rory, Rick, and Rolland. In 1954, the family moved from Bartlett, NE, to Woonsocket, and then to Wessington Springs, where he continued to farm and Ranch.
Due to health reasons in 1973, Darold his wife, and two youngest children relocated to Mesa, AZ. This is where Darold resided until just recently. While in Arizona, Darold worked as a finish carpenter for Farnsworth Construction until his retirement in 1990.
Darold had many interests during his life. Restoring tractors, ranching, hunting raccoons and pheasants, traveling, camping and fishing, playing cards, and dancing. His passion was playing and watching baseball. One of his favorite trips was to Wrigley field to watch his Cubs for a three-game series for his 70th birthday. He was a life long member of the VFW and American Legion in Wessington springs.
Darold is survived by his sister Eunice Blair of Omaha, NE; four children, Leta Sheehy of Arizona, Dd (Patti) Couch of Custer, Rick (Loretta) Couch of Lake City, Rolland Couch (Maryann Cahill) of Connecticut; daughter-in-law Cheryl Couch of Old Hickory, TN; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.
Darold was preceded in death by his parents; son Rory Couch; brother Lawrence Couch and his wife Maxine; and Brother in law Ben Blair.
