Darlyne Ruth (Swanson) Holmgren Koch, 88

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Darlyne Ruth (Swanson) Holmgren Koch, 88, passed peacefully on the evening of Saturday, March 1, 2025. She was a devoted wife, loving homemaker and community builder.
Darlyne, the daughter of William and Pearl (Johnston) Swanson was born Feb. 14, 1937, in Hallock, Minn. The family temporarily moved to Fergus Falls, Minn., where she and her sister attended school before returning to Hallock in 1952.
She married Robert Holmgren on Sept. 18, 1954. They lived in Hallock and moved to Rugby, N.D., in 1958 and resided there until 1970 when they moved to Grand Forks, N.D. In 1977, they moved to their lake home in Tenstrike, Minn., where Robert died in 1996.
She married George Koch of Puposky, Minn., in 2002 and enjoyed working with him on the dairy farm before they moved into the lake house in 2006. The two shared over 20 years of marriage, spending time creating great memories with their blended families prior to his passing in 2024.
Darlyne was an active member, deacon and elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Hallock, Rugby, Grand Forks, Bemidji and Blackduck, Minn. In each of these communities, she volunteered her time at many organizations such as the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts of America, Good Samaritan Society and Dollars for Scholars. Darlyne also spent time working with her husband at Century 21 Dickinson in Bemidji, Minn., as a realtor. At home, she cared for her four children and loved to entertain. Darlyne was an immensely talented hostess, best known for having a warm meal on the table to share and making sure that all her guests had a coozy to keep their beverage of choice cold.
She is survived by: her four children, Brad (Lucy) Holmgren of Bayard, N.M., Lori Jo Holmgren of Spring Lake Park, Minn., Rob (Lori Jean) Holmgren of Plymouth, Minn., and Tricia Holmgren of Bemidji; her six grandchildren, Jonathan Holmgren of San Luis, Colo., Joshua (Christilyn) Williams of St Paul, Minn., Jack (Paige) Holmgren of Knoxville, Tenn., Will (Maddie) Holmgren of Austin, Texas, Michaela Holmgren of Los Angeles, Calif., and Van Holmgren of Knoxville; a sister, Marlys (Ken) Kain of Thief River Falls, Minn.; brother-in-law, Richard Moore of Austin; as well as seven nieces and nephews; seven step-children, Pam Franz of Northfield, Minn., Sue Grimm of Bemidji, Annette Iburg of Bemidji, Pat (Kim) Koch of Foley, Minn., Jeff (Rachel) Koch of Puposky, Mike (Sherry) Koch of Puposky, and Chad Koch of Mounds View, Minn.; 11 step-grandchildren, Eric Koch, Mary Franz, Brittany Yang, Dexton Koch, Sylvia Grimm, Otto Grimm, Tori Hall, Jake Koch, Amanda Iburg, Anna Iburg and Adam Iburg; and nine great step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by: her first husband, Robert Holmgren; second husband, George Koch; father, William Swanson; mother, Pearl (Johnston) Tureson; step-father, Alfred Tureson; brother, Melford Myles Swanson; grandson, Peter Holmgren; sister-in-law, Lois (Holmgren) Moore; and brother-in-law, Dennis Anderson.
There was a service to celebrate Darlyne’s life at the Blackduck First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 11 a.m. The family hosted a visitation for an hour prior to the service and there was a light luncheon following the service. Darlyne would want her loved ones to know that she loved and appreciated them. We enjoyed coming together to show her how much we loved and appreciated her.
Condolences may be sent to www.ceasefuneralhome .com.