Darrell Dean Whaley

Darrell Dean Whaley

Sept. 28, 1938 - March 24, 2019

TRENTON, Neb. — Darrell Dean Whaley, age 80, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2019, at El Dorado Manor in Trenton.

He was born in Custer County near Arnold, Neb., on Sept. 28, 1938, the son of Merle E. “Bill” and Laura (Swisher) Whaley. Dean graduated from Callaway High School in 1955. He attended Southwest Community College at Milford, Neb., majoring in diesel technology and spent five years working for various John Deere dealerships as a diesel mechanic.

He joined the U.S. Army Reserves and received an honorable discharge in 1965.

He married Sandra Price and to this union three children were born; Mitchell Todd, Theresa Annette, and Elizabeth Ann. He later married Vivian Sharp and they later divorced.

Dean was hired by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance as a bank examiner and in 1966, began working for the Peoples-Webster County Bank in Red Cloud. His banking career continued with Peoples-Webster State Bank when he was hired by the State Bank of Trenton.

He married Dorothy (Rickard) Dailey on Christmas Eve in 1979. To this union Dean welcomed Dorothy’s children, Kurt and Jana, to his family.

Dean became the president of State Bank of Trenton in 1983 and also assumed the duties as CEO of Farmers State Bank in Maywood, Neb. He continued in this role, becoming a co-owner of both banks. He was a licensed insurance agent and licensed real estate salesperson. He later started a small trucking company known as Whaley Inc.

Dean was past-president of Southwest Nebraska Banking Association Institution, past-president of Trenton Rotary Club, member of Trenton American Legion, and past-member of McCook Elks and Eagles.

In his spare time, he enjoyed golfing, boating, watching the Huskers, having coffee with his 4 p.m. friends, and spending time with his family. He also enjoyed the various trips he and Dorothy took including the World’s Fair at Vancouver, Niagara Falls, Cancun, and Hawaii. Other trips included ferrying up the Eastern Coast to Nova Scotia, driving in three different summers from southern part of Canada west to east, and numerous US states.

Preceding him in death were his parents; infant daughter, Elizabeth Ann; step-son, Kurt Dailey; two sisters, Wanda Davis and Willa (Bob) Bowers; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Derald and Phyllis Rickard; and sister-in-law, Marjorie Redfield.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Whaley of Trenton; children, Mitchell and Theresa; step-daughter, Jana Dailey and significant other, Tim Siefkas of Creston, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Diane Dailey of Chattanooga, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Allyson (Milan) Moses, Dori Dailey and fiance, Robert Kolterman, Jessica (Tyler) Martin, Brandon (Lisa) Dailey, and Cari (Brent) Potthoff; 12 great-grandchildren, Zyon and Noah Moses, Jeremiah Howells, Zachery, Seleyne and Sebastian Guzman, Katelyn and Jacob Martin, and Kale and Jesse Dailey; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

Memorials may be given in his name to Trenton Fire Department, Trenton Ambulance, Trenton Congregational United Church of Christ, or charity of choice.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 28, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel in Trenton.

Funeral services will be Friday, March 29, 2019, 2 p.m. at the Trenton Congregational United Church of Christ with Pastor Jean Miller officiating. Burial will follow at the Trenton Cemetery. Refreshments and sharing of memories will follow the committal service at the TCDC.

Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel of Trenton entrusted with arrangements.