Darlene Jones

Darlene Jones of Bellevue, Nebraska passed away on April 8th, 2026 peacefully at home surrounded by her daughters. She was born on June 1st, 1937 at Sutherland, Nebraska to Joe and Theresa (Leadabrand) Arensdorf. Mom grew up in McPherson County and attended District 60 school. She worked away from home helping to cook and care for other children. On July 23rd, 1956 she was united in marriage to Richard Jones. They resided in North Platte, Nebraska where she worked for the Fox Theater and then started raising a family. To the union two daughters were born, Dorothy (Dottie) and Theresa (Terri). Our mom contributed to the household income by taking in ironings.

Family was the most important thing to our mom and dad. They enjoyed going to country western dances, spending time with extended family and friends and taking in shows at Branson, Missouri. Mom also enjoyed playing cards, games and jigsaw puzzles with family and friends. After we started school full time she became employed with Sones International as a bookkeeper.

Mom and dad moved to Aurora, Nebraska after retiring to be equally distance from both daughters and she worked for the hospital thrift center. When it became to difficult to maintain a home and care for our dad's medical needs, they moved to Bellevue in the assisted living facility where they were closer to doctors. After dad passed away in 2014, mom moved into Dottie and Roy's home where she remained until her death.

She is survived by daughters; Dottie (Roy) Penny, Terri (Tim) Leibert, Grandchildren; Katie (Eric), Kayla (Theron), Tony and Chris (Feleshia), Great Grandchildren; Kaitlyn, Bailley and Gracie, Sisters; Mildred (John) Polanco, Karen (Jack) Livingston, Brothers; Harold Arensdorf, Ray (Lynn) Arensdorf as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Theresa Arensdorf, her sisters, Alma Walz, Anna Melvin and Marge Hehnke, brothers, Ralph and sister-in-law, Meg Ann Arensdorf, Dale and sister-in-law Esther and sister-in-law, Shirley Arensdorf.

Memorials will be sent to a Shelter for Abused Women! Our mom's wishes was to have no service but would like for each person to spend quality time with their family and friends and have a good day on her!

Some of our last laughs with mom those last few days were when every time she would move, she would say "Just give me a minute". After 45 minutes of "Just give me a minute", we finally made it to the table! Then when we would start her morning routine of medication and breathing machine, she would say, "Just give me a minute, I can't see"! "You just get me in here and start stuffing me?" We asked her how many minutes we needed to wait, and would she like to just come and hang out at the table for 5 or 10 minutes before we start stuffing her and she said "YES"! A sense of humor to the end!