Darlene M Noble

Graveside Services for Darlene M. Noble will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr., officiating.

Additional Memorial Services will be held at a later date.

Due to health concerns, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic; current CDC and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for Faith-Based Services and Gatherings will be followed.  The Noble family sincerely encourages each person to make their decision whether to attend Darlene's service, based on the best interest of your health, and that of your community.  The services will be livestreamed via the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home Facebook Page .

Darlene Mae Noble (Podlesak) was born on a farm to Millard and Mayme (Uldrich) Podlesak on January 22, 1931, near Milligan, Nebraska, in Fillmore County. As an only child she had vivid memories of the Depression; from dust storms, crops drying up, devastation by grasshoppers, wearing clothes made from flour sacks, Hoovervilles by the Milligan railroad tracks, gypsy caravans, and seeing World War II transform the area into massive B-17 and B-24 training fields.  She talked of how the flyers, not that much older than her, would "bomb" the children walking home from country one room school with empty boxes.  She vividly remembered when two planes collided and fell to the earth. She graduated from Milligan High School in 1948 and taught country one room school before going to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her decision to go to college caused a major scandal in her insular traditional Czech community.

College was an exciting time for Darlene. She embraced the opportunities of learning and college culture.  She worked many part-time jobs to make enough money for her tuition. Darlene was a Resident Assistant at Love Hall and Neihardt dorms. She was a writer for the Daily Nebraskan and a member of the Tassles.  She also met her future husband, Clark Noble in a zoology class.  She graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor's of Science Degree, specializing in Home Ec. / Journalism.

Darlene was united in marriage on December 18, 1952 with Clark Noble in Lincoln. She made her wedding gown after her future husband cut it out.  She would say she took her last final in the morning and was married that afternoon.  Out of their union two children were born:  Carol Jo and Daniel Clark.

Soon after marriage, Darlene and Clark moved around the country with Clark's military career. They lived at Fort Riley; Fort Leonard Wood; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana. She found part-time jobs and enjoyed meeting new people in different places.

In November 1959, Darlene and Clark moved to Holdrege where Clark began working at Aten and Noble Attorneys at Law.  Darlene completed advanced studies and received her teaching degree at Kearney State College and taught 8th grade with Funk Public School.   Later, she became an elementary teacher at Roosevelt and Lincoln Elementary Schools in Holdrege and also taught in pre-schools, substitute taught and helped with school administration.

Darlene was very involved in her community.  She had a serving heart and dedicated her time to many organizations including:  the Chapter H of PEO, the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, 4-H leadership and County Fair judging, the Republican Party, Community Concerts, the Red Cross, helping with elections in Phelps County, teaching literacy to adults and neighborhood block parties.

One of her favorite events was for the 75th Birthday of Phelps County.  She prepared a historic fashion show.  The models wore wedding and flapper's dresses and World War II and beyond outfits, that families had preserved in a large community event.

She also spent many hours ferrying her children to sporting and music practices and other events. After her parents passed, she spent time on the road going to manage her family farm near Milligan. She took great pride in modernizing the practices and improving efficiency of the operations. When needed Darlene would also pitch in and help with her husband's law office, or make a cake for birthdays.

Darlene also enjoyed her friends with afternoon and evening bridge clubs, where sometimes they never got around to even playing cards.  She gardened and was always ready to make a pot of soup or a roast for someone in need.  Her tea rings were in high demand around the community at Christmas time 20 plus were often made during the holidays.

In later years, Parkinson's disease slowed Darlene down and complications after a hip replacement made walking a challenge.  Since June 2018, she had lived in various nursing facilities in Lincoln and Holdrege. When she contracted Covid 19 she passed with her partner in life, Clark at her side.

Darlene was preceded in death by: her parents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

She is survived by: her husband, of almost 68 years, J. Clark Noble of Holdrege; her daughter, Carol (Dennis) Mathias of Lincoln; her son, Dan (Stephanie) Noble of Lincoln; and one granddaughter, Morgan Noble, of Lincoln.

There will be no visitation or viewing.  Memorials are kindly suggested to the charity of your choice.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.