Darlene Marie (Hays) Sargent passed away peacefully on March 11 ^th 2020 at the Correctionville Nursing & Rehabilitation center in Correctionville Iowa. Darlene had battled dementia for the past several years. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sergeant Bluff.

Darlene was born in Waterman Township in O’Brien county Iowa on August 5 ^th , 1920 to Charles & Alice Hays.

Darlene lived most of her life in Quimby Iowa. She married Vernon Payne April 12 ^th ,1942  . From this marriage they had 5 children. Donald, Alice, Dennis, Ardith, & Katheryn. They later divorced. Darlene then married Jake Sargent on October 14 ^th , 1955 in Marshall Mn. From this marriage Darlene also became a step mother to Roger & Shirley Sargent.

Darlene enjoyed spending time with her family, playing cards & boardgames. She especially loved to play scrabble, & was a pretty tough opponent. She also liked to cook & needlepoint, she made beautiful afghans that she would share with her children & grandchildren. She loved to reminisce about the good old days. She loved to tell the story of how her & her two sisters Sara & Charlotte used to share a horse that they would ride to get back & forth to school. She was an excellent caretaker for her parents when their health started to fail.

She is survived by her son Dennis Payne & his wife Krista of Sioux City IA. Her daughter Ardith & her husband Bob of Carlisle IA. She is survived by her grandchildren, Don Johnson, Daryl Johnson, Dennis Payne Jr, Daniel Payne, Donald Payne, Robert Hoeppner, Roben Mathews, & Kathy Murrow & numerous great grandchildren.

She was proceeded in death by both husbands. Her son Don, and her daughters Alice Dobine & Kay Erickson, granddaughters Debbie Johnson and Darnell Payne.