Daryl Hilde Molskness, 61, died peacefully on October 3, 2026, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, surrounded by his wife, Kirsten, and children, Jakob and Hannah.
A Celebration of Life service will be at 11 AM on Saturday, October 17th at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Steve Lindley officiating. Visitation will be 4-7 PM on Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church with a prayer service at 7 PM and will continue on Saturday one hour prior to the service. Immediately after the service there will be a luncheon followed by inurnment in Colman Lutheran Cemetery, rural Colman. The service will be livestreamed on Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel Facebook page starting at 10:55 AM. Online guestbook can be signed at http://www.rustandweilandfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted with Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel of Madison.
Daryl was born February 18, 1965, the youngest son of Robert (“Bob”) and DeAnn Molskness. He grew up on the family farm north of Wentworth, South Dakota, where his love of agriculture took root. As a child, he enjoyed riding on the tractor and going to the sale barn with his dad and Grandpa Molskness. Some of his favorite childhood memories were Sunday dinners at Grandma and Grandpa Molskness’ farm and time at the gravel pit with Grandpa and Grandma Hilde. After graduating from Rutland High School, Daryl spent a semester at South Dakota State before transferring to the University of Nebraska, where he majored in agribusiness. His time in Lincoln made him a lifelong, passionate Husker football fan.
Daryl built a 32-year career with Monsanto (now Bayer), working in crop sciences and industrial and ornamental turf before managing the seed and chemical business across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas. The relationships he formed with his co-workers and customers were something he treasured. When he retired in 2020, he joined Agtegra Cooperative in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he spent six years leading the agronomy business. He was widely respected in the agricultural industry and proud to serve on the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Retailers Association. Throughout his career, Daryl loved the employees who worked for him as well as the customers who often became friends. He was a mentor and confidant to many, and he could always make people laugh with a good story.
Daryl married Kirsten Grudt on August 17, 1997, at a beautiful ceremony in Shoreline, Washington. They welcomed Jakob in 1999 and Hannah in 2001 and later opened their home to foreign exchange daughter Gabi. The family enjoyed living in Washington, South Dakota and Missouri and cherished the friendships they made in each place.
Travel for both work and pleasure took Daryl and Kirsten across the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. He loved planning and organizing family trips, and a highlight was taking Jakob and Hannah to Norway to see where their ancestors had lived. Closer to home, Daryl cherished time on the water at their Lake Madison house, especially as captain of the pontoon.
Grateful for having shared Daryl’s life are his wife, Kirsten, son Jakob (Julia Vaillancourt), daughter Hannah and foreign exchange daughter Gabriela Bonilla Concha of Chile; brothers Rob, Aaron (Marla), Marc (Lana) and foreign exchange brother Juan (Veronica) Moya of Mexico; parents-in-law Richard and Loretta Grudt; brothers-in-law Kris (Barb) Grudt, Tim Grudt and Dan (Lois) Grudt and numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Daryl was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and DeAnn Molskness, and sister-in-law Kathy Molskness.
The family extends its deepest gratitude for the excellent care he received in the Neuro CCU at Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Daryl’s memory to South Dakota FFA, Colman Lutheran Cemetery, the Avera Foundation, or the Kory Hendrickson Foundation.
