Marie Swanson

Marie Frances (Darrah) Swanson 93, of Lewistown, passed away on Thursday morning, January 22, 2026 in Valle Vista Manor; coincidentally, the same date as her late husband Gus’s birthday. Marie was born on August 1, 1932, to George Clement and Antonette (Stransky, Edwards) Darrah. During her early childhood, the family lived on a ranch near Lewistown. They moved into town where Marie attended both St. Leo’s Grand and Fergus High School, graduating in 1950. She worked at Woolworth’s with her sister Dorothy while in high school and then at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Eddy’s Bakery, and the First National Bank. On December 12, 1953 she was united in marriage to Gustave (Gus) E. Swanson at St. Leo’s Church in Lewistown. They were married for just over 64 years before the death of Gus on January 9, 2018. She continued to live in Lewistown at the Villa.

Marie enjoyed time with family and friends, and she was an excellent cook. She enjoyed tending to her flower gardens and watching birds in her backyard on Second Avenue.

Marie is survived by her children: Pam (Jerry) Kaiser of Billings, MT, Rod (Wendy) Swanson of Clinton, MT, Gary (Kate) Swanson of Helena, MT, and Greg (Terri) Swanson of Bainbridge Island, WA; 8 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers, and 2 sisters.

Celebration of Life for Marie F. Swanson will be Friday, February 20th, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in the Cloyd Chapel with committal to follow in the Lewistown City Cemetery.

Friends are encouraged to make memorial donations to Hospice of Central Montana or to a charity of their choice, which can be left at the Cloyd Funeral Home. Condolences for the family can be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com

The family would like to give special thanks to the Staff at the Villa, who were Mom’s second family and Hospice of Central Montana for the wonderful care they provided.