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Darwin “Dar” Hurd, 93, Pipestone, died Friday, March 8, 2024 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Visitation was held on Friday, March 15 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m. at Peace United Methodist Church with Rev. Velda Maine officiating.
Interment was in New Woodlawn Cemetery in Pipestone.
Darwin LeRoy Hurd was born on October 20, 1930 to Walter and Mamie (Johannsen) Hurd in Hendricks, Minn. He attended Lake Benton High School and shortly after completing his education he met Leah Jacobson. Darwin and Leah were united in marriage on July 29, 1951 in Pipestone, Minn. This union was blessed with five children, Thomas, Douglas, LeDar, Gloria, and Timothy.
They raised their family in Pipestone, where Darwin was well involved in the Pipestone community. Dar opened Dar’s Texaco in 1958 and later with Leah opened the famous Dar’s Pizza in 1969 until selling it to his daughter and son-in-law Gloria and Rodger Smidt in 1979. He was also a member of the Masons, Pipestone Volunteer Fire Department, and volunteered with the Meals on Wheels program. Dar was a member of Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone.
Dar loved horse racing. He had many race horses that raced in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Chicago, and Canada. He really enjoyed going to the various tracks, visiting the stables, showing the horses to any visitors and the paddock before and during the races. Horse racing was his and Leah’s passion.
He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He attended grandkids games as that gave him so much joy. He could many times be found watching the sports they were involved in either on the local television channel or attending in person.
Dar enjoyed working as a sub rural mail carrier for the postal service – then working full-time as a rural mail carrier until his retirement at the age of 65. He was well known as the mail man with the orange International “scout” which he tried to give away every year at the Hurd open but didn’t happen. He also helped his son on a construction project one year and got the nick name “dozer Dar” which will live on. That episode was and is quite a story!
After retirement, Darwin could be found at Lange’s Cafe for coffee twice a day until they closed, then at the 8th Avenue Diner in the morning and at coffee every afternoon at McDonald’s. He so much enjoyed heading west twice a week to the “office” with his co-pilot, Larry Miller.
One very important thing people will say about Dar is that he was always fun to talk to, had a kind word and never said unkind words about anyone. It can be said without a doubt that he was a lover and a friend and kind to all.
After many years out at the farm, Dar moved to Ridge View Assisted Living facility in August of 2023. He continued to visit the farm twice a day to check his mail, feed the cats and tinker around the farm to keep busy. Dar entered the care of the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., and after a short time there he passed away on Friday, March 8, 2024 at the age of 93.
Dar is lovingly remembered by his five children, Thomas Hurd (Sonya), of Sioux Falls, S.D., Douglas (Mary Lou) Hurd of Floyds Knob, Ind., LeDar (Daryl) Bartholomaus of Pipestone, Minn., Gloria (Rodger) Smidt of Pipestone, Minn., and Timothy Hurd of Tea, S.D.; his brothers, Dick Hurd and Jim (Sandy) Hurd; brother-in-law, Duane “Buck” (Deb) Jacobson; sister-in-law, Barb Hurd; grandchildren, Ashlie Hurd, Seth (Alisha) Hurd, Erin Hurd (Ryan), Anthony (Ashley) Bartholomaus, Brett (Britany) Bartholomaus, Kimberly (Eric) Haken, Jeremy (Maritta) Smidt, Bradley (Jessica) Smidt, Brian (Jamie) Smidt, Jessica (Ben) Mortenson, and Aric (Alyssa) Hurd; and 30 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Leah; parents, Mamie and Walter Hurd; parents-in-law, John and Grace Jacobson; brothers, Raymond, Robert, and Floyd; sister, Beverly; grandson, Kyle Hurd; great-grandson, Hadyn Haken.
(Hartquist Funeral Home,
Pipestone Chapel)
