Darline Louise Rasure, Concordia, died at home on November 15, 2012.

Darline was born on October 9, 1927, in Goodland , Kansas to Herbert and Nellie ( Trent ) Sylvester. In 1935, when the Dust Bowl struck western Kansas , Darline became seriously ill with dust pneumonia. Her brother died from the same illness. Her father died shortly thereafter. At a very young age, Darline began working to help support her mother and sister.

Upon graduating from High School, Darline attended Barnes Business College in Denver and worked at the Denver Public Library. Darline returned to Goodland a few years later to marry Robert "Bob" P. Rasure on May 22, 1949. Bob and Darline settled in Goodland where Bob managed the Goodland Lumber Yard. In 1951, Bob, a World War II veteran, was called to serve in the Korean War. He was stationed in Korea when Darline gave birth to their first child. In 1956, Bob and Darline purchased the Concordia Lumber Company to expand their business operations, and they moved to Concordia , Kansas , where they raised their four children.

Darline's children were her pride and joy. She instilled in them a love of learning and the importance of treating everyone with respect. She encouraged their independence, individuality and creativity. Darline was involved in supporting her children's activities, from teaching Sunday School, to assisting with Junior Golf, to encouraging intellectual debates on every topic imaginable. Darline was a gifted seamstress, starting early in life by mending clothes at a dry-cleaners when she was 10 years old. She made most of her own clothes and her children's clothes when they were young. She also sewed for her granddaughters and taught herself how to quilt, winning a Grand Champion Ribbon at the Tulsa State Fair when one of her daughters secretly entered the quilt. Darline loved to read, enjoyed poetry and music, and loved the Kansas landscape.

Darline is survived by her three daughters, Dana L. Rasure (and husband Roy C. Breedlove) and Gina M. Rasure, of Tulsa , Oklahoma , and Mara L. Rasure (and husband Roger W. Wallace) of Elkhorn , Nebraska ; a son, John R. Rasure (and wife Kendra Ley) of Gunnison , Colorado ; and two grandchildren, Riley L. Wallace and Avery L. Wallace, both of Elkhorn . Darline was predeceased by her husband, Bob Rasure, and her granddaughter, Taylor Breedlove.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 20, at The Majestic Theatre, 229 W. 6 ^th Street , Concordia, the Rev. Tessa Zehring officiating. Burial will be in West Branch Cemetery , Concordia.

Visitation will be from 1- 9 p.m. Monday, November 19, at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, 325 W. Sixth, Concordia, with the family receiving guests from 6-7p.m.

Memorials may be made to the Robert P. & Darline L. Rasure Fund for Head & Neck Cancer Research in care of the University of Nebraska Foundation , 2285 S. 67 ^th Street, Suite 200 , Omaha , NE 68106 or to Concordia's Rasure Field in care of the City of Concordia , 701 Washington Street , Concordia , KS 66901 .