Obituary: Darla Jean Swanson

Darla Jean Swanson, age 73, of Cloquet, Minnesota passed away surrounded by her family on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton, Minnesota. She was born Nov. 6, 1950, to Percy and Margaret (Schauland) Swanson in Moose Lake, Minnesota. Darla was raised in Blackhoof Township, Minnesota. She attended Central School and graduated from Barnum High School in 1968. She furthered her education at the technical school in Duluth and received her nursing degree.

In 1970, Darla was united in marriage to Terry Maki and spent four years traveling to several areas of the country following Terry's Air Force career. She returned to the area in 1974, and their marriage ended in 1977. Darla met and later married Marlyn Koski in 1983. They made their home in Cloquet and were blessed with one daughter, Katina. They separated in 2000. Darla was employed as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Nopeming Sanitorium for 28 years prior to their closing in 2002. She went on to work at Chris Jensen for four years and retired in 2006, at the age of 56.

Darla was a member of Elim Lutheran Church in Blackhoof, and always looked forward to monthly meetings with Nopeming employees. She enjoyed traveling to her timeshare in Hawaii with friends and family, and wintering in Florida. Darla also enjoyed time spent at the cabin, where she could admire the lake or participate in watersports. Darla could frequently be found enthralled in one of her soap operas or Lifetime movies. Darla deeply loved her grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. She will truly be missed.

Darla is survived by her daughter, Katina Koski; grandchildren, Isabel Witz, Jamien Koski, and Presley Koski; brother, Danny (Janel) Swanson; significant other, Gordy Sather; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, especially the many beloved colleagues from Nopeming. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Arne and Richard "Dickie" Swanson; and her two beloved Shih Zhu puppies, Sambo and Sassy.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. Funeral service: 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, with continued visitation one hour prior also at the funeral home. Interment at Sandy Lake Cemetery in Barnum will be held at a later date.

To sign the online guestbook, visit http://www.nelsonfuneralcare.net.