Dareld Dean Blake, 76, of Sutherland, NE, passed away Thursday, October 24, 2013, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE.

Dareld was born on April 24, 1937, to Marjorie and Claude Blake in McCook, NE. He grew up in Bartley and graduated from Bartley Public School in 1955. In 1954 Dareld enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and was honorably discharged in 1958.

On August 18, 1957, Dareld married Erla Joyce Petersen at Stratton, NE where they had lived for six years. They moved to Strasburg, CO for two years and Huntley, NE for six years where Dareld worked in grain elevators. They later settled in Sutherland where they spent the rest of their lives. Here Dareld worked for Pro-Ag, the Sutherland Co-op, drove trucks over the road for several different companies and for local farmers for a few years and worked for Simplot in Hershey, NE.

Dareld was also very active in the Sutherland School System. He was extremely proud of the accomplishments of the Sutherland student body and hosted numerous hospitality events. Dareld played a big role by driving the Activities Bus for the Sutherland School where he gained hundreds of grandkids that knew him best as, “Papa Smurf.” He retired from the Sutherland Public Schools in 2012 after 20 plus years of service.

Dareld was a hard working man of many trades. He loved his kids and the kids at school.

Survivors include his sons, Rick (Shari) Blake, of Sutherland, Randy (Linda) Blake, of North Platte and Brad (Angie) Blake, of Glendale, Ariz.; five granddaughters, Kaylen (Lynn) Biltoft, of Columbus, NE, Nichole Blake (Nick Bubak), of Grand Island, NE, Danielle Blake, of Glendale, AZ, Ashley (Joe) Johnson and Justina Blake, all of North Platte; two grandsons, Zachary and Preston Blake, of Sutherland; a sister, Claudine Brown, of Bell Buckle, TN; two brothers, Delbert (Neola) Blake, of McCook and Dale (Roberta) Blake, of Danbury, NE; other family and his many loving friends.

Dareld was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, in 2009; a granddaughter, Missy Blake; his parents, Claude and Margie Blake; a brother, Willard; a brother-in-law, Dean Brown.

Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Monday, October 28, 2013, in the Sutherland High School Gym. Burial with military honors in the the Riverview Cemetery south of Sutherland. Memorials are suggested to the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center in lieu of flowers. Visitation will be 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com.