Darin Alan Durfee, 42, of Frankfort, SD, passed away at his home on Sunday, October 15, 2017.  His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 20, 2017 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Redfield, SD.  Reverend Tammy Toepke-Floyd will officiate.  Burial, with full military honors, will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield.  A prayer service will follow at 7:00 p.m.  Family will be present to accept condolences beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.  (www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com)

Darin Alan Durfee was born February 7, 1975 in Redfield to David and Sandra (Ramsey) Durfee.  As a small child, Darin would spend countless hours at the meat plant with his dad.  Summer days were spent at the pool and playing baseball and he loved to ride his trick bike with his friends all over town.  When they were in need of refreshments, they would all go to grandma's house for treats.  He would spend afternoons fishing with his grandmother and he enjoyed their time together.

Darin attended and graduated from Redfield High School in 1993.  After graduation, Darin enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard in Redfield.  During his service, Darin was mobilized in December 2003.  He served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II alongside his brother, Chad, and all of his Charlie Battery brothers.  They all came home in February of 2005.  He retired after 17 years of service.

Darin worked for Western Products siding houses for about a year.  He then attended Lake Area Vo Tech and graduated with an associate degree in banking, finance and accounting.  He worked in the banking business and then moved onto working for Cellular 2000.  He moved to Sioux Falls, SD and started selling advertising for Polk Company.  He then sold advertising for Yellowbook.  He found a job selling vehicles at Billion in Sioux Falls before returning to his hometown of Redfield.

Darin then went to work with his longtime friend and classmate, Ed Frericks, and quickly found out he had a "knack" for farming.  He loved being a handyman and could fix almost anything to help keep things running smoothly.  Ed's family soon became Darin's family and he loved that family very much.

Darin is very close with his nieces and nephew.  He loved to call, chat, text, and snapchat with all of them.  He was always asking about their lives and would help with anything they needed.  Darin is a true family man.  He would spend hours talking about anything and everything with his aunts, uncles and cousins.

He loved to golf and would spend hours or even sometimes days on the course with his friends or anyone who wanted to golf.  Hunting was another of his passions.  He started hunting with his family at his Uncle David's farm and continued the tradition with his father, brother, and nephew around the farm where he lived.  Suzy and Shadow were always at his side and he would have many stories to tell about them.  Darin would always have the grill fired up any time of the year.

Darin was an active member of the Frankfort Volunteer Fire Department; a life member of the Paul A. Schleher VFW Post #2755; a member of the Clay Kiser American Legion Post #92; a member of the South Dakota National Guard Enlisted Association; and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Darin is survived by his parents, David and Sandra Durfee of Redfield; his paternal grandmother, Eleanore Durfee of Redfield; his brother, Chad (Theresa Anderson) Durfee of Sioux Falls; his niece Jessica (Trevor Larsen) O'Brien of Sioux Falls and children:  Renner and Jonas; his nephew, Joshua Durfee of Mankato, MN; and his niece Bailey Durfee of Sioux Falls.  He is also survived by many, many uncles, aunts and cousins.