Darrel K. Oakley, 77, Rapid City, died May 10, 2011 at Ft. Meade Veterans Hospital in Sturgis, SD. Darrel Kenneth Oakley was born on May 22, 1933 to Kenneth Ira and Zelda Fern Littlefield Oakley of Benkelman, Nebraska. The Dust Bowl day was so dark with blowing dirt that the city of Benkelman turned on the street lights. The doctor allowed that Darrel at his birth was a fat little rascal. Darrel attended elementary school in Benkelman and graduated from Dundy County High School in 1953. Military Service was in The Army Infantry during the Korean conflict. June 03, 1956 Darrel married Carol Joanne Wisdom of Wray, Colorado at the United Methodist Church in Wray. They lived in Benkelman 13 years before moving to 2 miles south of Keystone, South Dakota on the Buell Ranch. Three children were born during the time in Benkelman, Nebraska: Cynthia Ann, Charyl Jo, and Kenneth Darrel. Darrel and Carol accepted Jesus Christ as their savior and Lord in 1966 and were members of Trinity Baptist Church. Several years while in Benkelman Darrel had 18 wheelers; hauled cattle, hogs, sheep, REA poles, fence posts; and purchased truckloads of watermelon from the southern end of Texas following the growing season north and delivered melons to local grocery stores within a 120 miles of Benkelman. Stauter Sawmill in 1969 offered Darrel a job of hauling sawmill by-products from Hill City, South Dakota to Rapid City and reloading them onto boxcars to be shipped to paper mills on the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. Several markets were developed using and delivering sawmill by-products by Oakley Enterprises to turkey farms, dairy farms, and The Denver Stock Show. Wood shavings were baled in the Sioux City Iowa Stockyards. This was a busy 17-18 years. Darrel designed and built the trailers for that use. Oakley Enterprises joined with 13 other trucking companies presenting videos for the state of South Dakota to allow two 45 semi-trailers to travel I-90. Oakley Enterprises also volunteered heavy equipment & helpers to assist in clearing debris after the flood of June 09, 1972. God allowed Darrel to be a part of building Calvary Baptist Church by transporting supplies. He served as a deacon at Calvary from 1970 until his death. Darrel loved people and shared Christ with many. God blessed Darrel & Carol to travel to many countries and to live in Jinja, Uganda--East Africa for six months in 1993 assisting missionaries there. Darrel was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, parents-in-law; William Lawrence Wisdom, Opal Earl Wisdom Newbanks, Step father-in-love, Spencer Newbanks; a sister, Ila Jane Oakley Caster & her husband, E. H. Caster; brothers-in-love, Lawrence Dale Wisdom, Richard Earl Wisdom, George Morris; and sister-in-love, Lois Pope Wisdom. Darrel is survived by his wife, Carol Wisdom Oakley of 54 years, children: Cynthia Ann (Per) Sletten of sters, Norway; Charyl (Dennis) Scroggins of Indonesia; Kenneth Darrel (Kristen, ne Kuhn) Oakley of Henderson, NV. Grandchildren: Carissa Joy Scroggins of Rapid City, SD, Jonathan Daniel Scroggins of Mt. Rushmore, SD, Anndrea Cuinn Scroggins and Taniall Alise Scroggins of Indonesia. Sisters: Della Louise Oakley Morris of Arvada, CO, Lelia Murrel Oakley Fortkamp and husband Floyd Fortkamp of Santa Rosa, CA. Sister-in-love, Eunice Ming Wisdom of Wray, CO, and Brother-in-love, Donald Roger Wisdom of Greeley, CO. International Students: Lola Tapia Celly, Margarita Molineros and Pablo Ivan Bravo all of Ecuador and from Bolivia Guillermo San Juan of Lakewood, CO. Several nieces, nephews, cousins and step Newbanks families. Visitation will be on Sunday, May 15, 2011 from 2-4 p.m. at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. With family being present to greet one and all, a celebration of life will be on Monday, May 16, 2011 at 11:00 am at Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Gordon "Skip" Dean officiating. Interment will be at Pine Lawn Memorial Park. A memorial has been established in honor of Darrel's life ministry.