MINNEOLA – Darlene (Leslie) Rankin was born on the Leslie farm south of Ashland, Kansas on May 10, 1926 and died Wednesday, November 11, 2020 in Minneola.  She was the third child of Guilford and Ollie (Watts) Leslie.  Her husband, Jack Rankin preceded her in death in 1974, also her parents, Guilford in 1989 and Ollie in 1988 as well as her brother, Charles Leslie in 2015, her sister, Doris Leslie Kelliher in 2012 and 2 granddaughters, Aubree Bowling in 2018 and Monica Rankin in 2018.

She married Estyle W. Rakes June 1, 1996 in Minneola.  He died on March 25, 2008 in Dodge City, Kansas.

She attended a one-room country school, Riverside School District No. 9, a quarter mile south of her home.  The school was unified and she attended the 8 ^th grade in Ashland and graduated from Ashland High School in 1944.  After high school, she worked at the Nu-Way Cleaners for her uncle, Marion Nelson and helped Kenneth and Frances Rankin on their farm at the time of their daughter, Carolyn's birth.  She went to Colorado Springs, Colorado and worked as a teletype operator at Peterson Field there until she went to Biloxi, Mississippi and married her childhood sweetheart, Pvt. John W. "Jack" Rankin on July 20, 1945.  WWII ended soon after.  Jack was discharged from the Army Air Force in May 1946.

Her and Jack were blessed with 4 sons.  They lived near Ashland until after their first son was born in 1947 then they moved to Medicine Lodge in the Union Chapel community for 6 years then moved to the Jesse Harper ranch south of Sitka, Kansas, lived there for 6 years before moving to the Marion Rankin farmstead restoring it back to a lovely home again.  They moved to the Taylor Ranch south of Bloom, Kansas in 1959.  In 1965, they purchased a home on Poplar St. until in May 1967, they purchased The Holiday Motel on Highway 54 and operated that for 14 years.  Jack was killed in a farm accident October 26, 1974.  Darlene operated the motel then until it was sold in 1981.

She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at Union Chapel.  She later transferred her membership to the Minneola United Methodist Church.  She was a member of the United Methodist Women, served 6 years on the board of Arrowhead West in Dodge City, was a member of Minneola Civic Club for a number of years and served as president at one time. She was a volunteer bus driver for the Minneola Civic Connection for a number of years.

She was a High School secretary at USD 219 for 12 years and secretary at the United Methodist Church in Minneola for 3 years. She retired after her marriage to Estyle Rakes in 1996.

She and Estyle enjoyed retirement and apartment living and took many trips. Her favorite things were visiting her sons and families, reading, crafting, and later did some quilting. She loved keeping in touch with e-mailing her friends and family. In the early 1980's, she started collecting giraffes, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, especially enjoyed giving her giraffes. She has hundreds and made from every kind of material. Another special thing in her life was their Sisters Vacation which her and her 2 sisters took every year for 25 years.

Estyle and she moved to an apartment in Dodge City in 2002 and she joined the No. 2 Women's Circle of Dodge City Methodist Church and also became a member of the West Hopewell Club and served as president for 2 years. They were both active in Friendship Meals at the Trinity Building. She became a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) something she had always wanted to do. She was active in that organization while in Dodge City.

They were in the process of moving back to Minneola to be closer to hospital and doctors when Estyle passed away quietly in his sleep.

Survivors are: four sons, Allan Rankin and wife, Mary, Manhattan, Kansas, Galen Rankin and wife, Gwen, Minneola, Bryan Rankin and wife Jo, Krugerville, Texas, Wayne Rankin and wife, Shirley, Lake Mills, Iowa, 11 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. Step children, Jim Rakes and wife, Julia, Moore, Oklahoma, Vickie and late Dewayne Thornburg, Minneola, Margo Rakes, Goddard, Kansas and Carma and Myron Burns, Fowler, Kansas; 9 step grand children and 9 step greatgrandchildren. She also leaves a brother, Dean Leslie and wife, Shirley, Larned, Kansas; a sister, Janice and husband, Jake Shaffer, Wichita, Kansas and a host of nieces and nephews.

Private family services will be held and inurnment will be in the Highland Cemetery, Ashland.  There will be no public viewing, cremation has taken place.  The family suggests memorials to the Minneola Nutrition Council in care of Minnis Mortuary, 1901 N. 14 ^th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.  Condolences may be sent to www.minnismortuary.net