Darlene Ida (Brick) Aker Hoon, 86, of Spearfish, SD entered her reward in heaven February 20, 2025 at her home in Spearfish with all four of her children by her side.

Darlene was born April 29, 1938 in Westport, SD to Edward and Ida Brick. Growing up, she tended to many flocks of chickens, helped raise her younger siblings, baked bread for farm hands, and enjoyed many barn dances. She graduated from Westport High School where she was elected Homecoming Queen in her senior year.

She met Merlyn Aker while she was helping her aunt Violet Schuler whose husband worked with Merlyn's brother Dean. She spent most of a summer taking care of the Schuler household and children, and when she visited again when she was 18, Merlyn and Darlene married after a short courtship in which they realized that they were meant for each other. To this union, four children were born—Deb, Cindy, Alan, and Scott.

Merlyn and Darlene lived south of Rapid City where Merlyn operated a fencepost plant. When the plant burned in 1971, Merlyn worked in the timber industry in the Black Hills and moved the family to Whitewood, SD in 1972.

Darlene excelled in her career as a homemaker, and was quite accomplished in sewing, quilting, cooking, baking, and bookkeeping. She prided herself on the cleanliness of her home, the quality of her meals, and the work ethic she instilled in her family. She sang in the choir at Immanuel Lutheran Church and was president of the Ladies' Aide there. When energy prices skyrocketed in the 1970s, she and her sons processed mountains of firewood to heat their home and her in-law's home next door. She developed respiratory illness in the late 1980s, but that did not slow her down. Everything she did was done in a big way. She quilted hundreds of baby quilts, baked a dozen loaves of bread and two large pans of cinnamon rolls at a time, and cooked as easily for 36 relatives for Thanksgiving or Christmas as she did for herself and her husband after the kids moved into their own homes. She loved playing cards and was always up for a game, and enjoyed playing the slot machines in Deadwood.

Merlyn passed away in 1992. Losing him was very difficult for her, but she had the support of many friends and family to help her through the loss. She married Sylvester Hoon July 23, 1993 in Whitewood, and they moved to Bath, SD in 1994, where she welcomed more children into her family, David, Charlene, and Rick Hoon. She moved back to Whitewood when Sylvester passed away, and then to Aberdeen, SD for a time. She moved back to Whitewood, and eventually to Spearfish so she could be closer to medical care.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Merlyn Aker; second husband, Sylvester Hoon, and by her sister, Donna Jean Kopecky; brothers, Richard Brick, Melvin "Bud" Kopecky, Marvin Kopecky, Bernie Kopecky, David Kopecky, Robert Brick, Kenny Brick, Ronnie Brick, and by one granddaughter, Sara Hoon.

She is survived by her sister, Sally Elsperger, and twin brother, Donald "Mick" Brick, both of Bath, SD. She is also survived by her children, Deb (Dan) Schmidt of Whitewood, Cindy Ladner (Art Askland) of Rapid City, Alan Aker (Heidi) of Piedmont, Scott Aker of Cheyenne, WY, David (Penny) Hoon of Humboldt, SD, Charlene (Randy) Kruse of Adrian, MN, and Rick (Dawn) Hoon of Aberdeen, SD, 16 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren.

The family asks that memorials be made in lieu of flowers to the Spearfish Senior Center where Darlene often played cards.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com .

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