Change at the speed of life

Posted on September 13, 2024

Transformation looks different on each of us.

Throughout her life, Children’s Home Society Board Member Darla Crown has been drawn to new challenges. Just hearing about the variety of jobs and activities she has experienced can give you whiplash!

And with each success, her world shifts, expands and transforms.

Darla grew up a tomboy on a Badlands ranch near Wall, SD. After high school she joined the Army to take advantage of the GI bill to pay for her college education. Upon enlisting, she wanted to join the military police, but in 1973 that wasn’t an option for women, and she was assigned to a personnel management specialist position.

Before long, Darla was recruited to be an undercover narcotics agent in the Army. She kept her original position as her cover job. Darla was part of drug busts, including a large ring that included her boss and two coworkers; she went into hiding at that point because her cover was blown and her life was in danger.

After Darla’s military service ended, she returned to South Dakota, got married and went to college and graduate school. She taught school in Wall for five years, became a school counselor and then an outpatient clinic counselor.

Darla changed lanes again to work in membership sales at the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce in 1995. A member of the Army National Guard, she was activated in 2004 to serve a year as a medical liaison officer when troops went to Iraq. Next, she joined Children’s Home Society as a Development Officer. After five years, Darla was selected as the first female State Command Chief Warrant Officer for the South Dakota Army National Guard, the position from which she retired.

Unsurprisingly, Darla enjoys motorcycle riding, race car driving and is a huge NASCAR fan. She’s a crack shot with rifles and handguns. Darla serves on the Central States Fair Foundation Board, Veteran’s Court, Rushmore Rotary Board, the ESGR (Employer Support of Guard and Reserve) and on the Liturgy Committee at Blessed Sacrament Church.

Darla is also a member of the Children’s Home Society Board of Directors.

Darla’s softer side

Although Darla and her husband, Doug, had no children, they developed strong ties with a deeply traumatized child, Kenny, who was in residential care at CHS for many years. They became foster parents and provided mostly respite care for a number of children, including Kenny.

Darla and Doug walked through extraordinarily trying times with Kenny, now 39, and continue to be his surrogate parents. It’s a sad story because of Kenny’s many issues and difficulties. Yet it’s a happy story because of the meaningful relationship between them.

Darla reflects on her connections to CHS—as a board member, employee and care provider—which began through her involvement with Kenny.

“It has really transformed me,” she says. “The relationship with Kenny and learning the whole process that children go through, and the services that Children’s Home provides has helped us understand what it’s like to be a parent—and a parent of a child with challenges.”

“Another way it’s transformed me is that it’s calmed me down—so I’m not always going 100 miles an hour,” Darla says. “Being more patient, knowing things don’t happen overnight. Taking care of these kids takes a lot of patience.”

Another transformation for Darla came in her understanding of CHS’s challenges.

“I have such an appreciation for the staff, and how hard everybody works to take care of the kids—but also raising the money to keep providing those services.”

Darla has in turn helped transform CHS through her work, her volunteering and her service.

“I’m proud of that,” she says. “Even after I quit working there, I would find myself saying, ‘we’re doing this, or we’re having this event.’

I would refer to Children’s Home, like I was still there. Like it’s part of me.”

It’s true. CHS is part of Darla and Doug. It’s part of Kenny. And it’s part of everyone the organization touches.