Darlene J. Sampson

Sanborn, Iowa

Darlene J. Sampson, 90, of Sanborn, formerly of Primghar passed away on Monday, June 8, 2026. Her memorial service will be 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the United Church of Primghar with Pastor Mike Cooper, officiating. 

Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Primghar.

Visitation with family present will be from 10 to 10:45 A.M. on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the United Church of Primghar.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the United Church of Primghar.

Arrangements are under the care of the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Primghar.

Darlene Joan Sampson passed away on June 8, 2026. Darlene was born on June 5,1936, to Zenna (Meylink) DeBoom and William DeBoom. When she was a baby, she and her parents lived in a refurbished chicken coop on her grandmother’s farm near Hartley, IA. When she was about five, the family moved to Sioux County for a brief period and then moved back to a farm in Hartley where her dad and uncle built a house out of a corn crib.

Darlene attended Hartley High School, graduating in 1953. Throughout her high school years, she was a member of the girls’ basketball team - going to the state tournament in 1953. She also played clarinet in the band and was the 1953 Oracle (yearbook) Queen.

Darlene was united in marriage with Garry Lee Sampson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA in August 1953. They began their marriage on the farm just north of Primghar and lived there until 1961 when Garry was appointed to the Los Angeles Police Department as a police officer.

In 1963 Darlene took the written Policewomen’s test and went through the various interviews and physical requirements required to be appointed as a Los Angeles police officer. She was one of six women who started a six-week training class at the Police Academy and one of five who completed the course. She was appointed a police officer in 1964. During her time on the police force, Darlene rose from a Policewoman I to Lieutenant. She was one of the first three women to be appointed as a detective and one of the first ten women to be appointed to Lieutenant. She retired in 1986

While in CA, she was very active in the Presbyterian church and was ordained as an Elder. In addition, she and Garry were sponsors of the college age Sunday night fellowship group.

Darlene was blessed with four daughters: Dianne (Larry) Jameson, Barbara (Russell) Krull, Terry (Fred) Kurth and Yvonne (Richard) Verdoorn.

In 1987 she and Garry moved back to the same farm where they began their married life. For the next 30+ years she and Garry enjoyed the farm in the spring, summer and fall and spent winters at Adobe Wells in McAllen, TX. In 2019 she and Garry moved to Oklahoma for a brief time and then returned to Sanborn IA.

Darlene is survived by four daughters, two unofficially adopted children (Joel and Kim Tewes), two siblings (Bill DeBoom and Delores Douma), eleven grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren. Darlene was preceded in death by Garry, her husband of 72 years, her parents, two siblings (Alice Kae and David) and one grandchild (Sarah Elizabeth Kurth).

Darlene will be interred in the Primghar cemetery.