Darrell Earl Sutor passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at Redbud Village in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 95. He was born on August 1, 1920 just 3 ½ miles southwest of Zurich, Kansas, on Rooks County Section 5-10-19, to Earl and Eliza (Rogers) Sutor. That particular quarter of ground was owned by his grandmother Martha Sutor, and when Darrell was 5 years old the family moved ½ mile west of Zurich so he could start walking to school. Darrell was almost 7 when his sister Darline was born and in 1931, the family moved to Section 21-10-19 which was four miles south of Zurich. Both farmsteads were owned by the Sutor brothers.
Darrell graduated from Palco High School in Placo, Kansas with the Class of 1938 and went on to attend Fort Hays State College for one year. The Sutor brother’s estate sale took place in 1938 where Darrell’s father purchased the main ranch headquarters. The family moved to the ranch and Sutor Hereford Farms was born. On May 14, 1943 Darrell was united in marriage to Joy Jennings in Plainville, out in the yard of his uncle Rev. A.W. Dick, who officiated the ceremony. Darrell and Joy then made their home ½ mile north of the ranch on Section 12-10-20.
At the start of World War II, Darrell went at least twice to Stockton, Kansas to get his physical and was sent home both times by the doctor, because a few boys needed to stay in order to help feed those that went. During that time, with the shortage of men at home, German Prisoners of War were hired to work in rural areas that posed minimal security risk. So it was that a large crew of POW’s came to build the sale barn on the ranch headquarters.
To say that cattle ranching was their life would be an understatement. After the war, Linda, Darla and Lorna were born as the ranch continued to expand. As newlyweds Darrell and Joy went by boxcar to Bellville, Kansas to the Republic County Fair with the show cattle. Joy didn’t much care for riding with the cattle so she didn’t go again. In 1961 Kansas Senators Bob Dole and Harry Darby, along with Kansas Governor John Anderson, Jr. all attended the much celebrated Centennial Sale with a large party held in the ranch house when the sale was over. In 1966 the Champion Hereford Bull, in the newly built Houston Astrodome, was none other than SHF True Onward 44. Through the Hereford business, Darrell knew people from all over the country.
Darrell was a lifetime member of the American Hereford Association, the Kansas Hereford Association and the Kansas Livestock Association even serving as President of the KHA in 1963. He served on the Western Cooperative Board for forty years, the Pleasant View Cemetery Board for many years, was a long time Board Member of the Rooks County Free Fair, and was active in both the Plainville and Palco United Methodist Churches.
Darrell is survived by daughters Linda Sutor of Smolan, Darla Moore and husband Charlie of Modoc, and Lorna Pelton of Palco; grandchildren Jessica Hall and husband Kelly, Heather Renier and husband Dan, Dana Pieper and husband David, Kevin Moore, Shellie Collins and husband Colby, and Chan Pelton and wife Amanda; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandson; and one sister-in-law.
Darrell was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Eliza Sutor, wife of 71 years Joy, step-mother Luella Sutor, sister Darline Marcotte, sister-in-law Alberta Stull, and three brothers-in-law Harold Marcotte, Max Stull, and Clive Felderman.
It has been said the Cattleman’s Motto is: “If it’s not yours, don’t take it. If it’s not true, don’t say it. If it’s not right, don’t do it.” Darrell lived every day of his life, teaching us by example, how to work hard and be thankful for what we have, and how to love one another through everything we say and do. Not just because it’s right, but because it’s the only way a true cattleman should live.
Funeral Services are 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Palco, Kansas with burial to follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday with family receiving friends from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to Redbud Village or Rooks County Free Fair and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, Kansas 67663. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com.