Darla Lea Laven

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
507-388-2288

Darla Lea Laven, age 70, of rural North Mankato, died Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Mankato surrounded by her family.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, October 22, 2012 at Belgrade United Methodist Church in North Mankato with Rev. Dan Horn officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul's Cemetery in rural Nicollet. Visitation will be held from 1:30 " 5:00 p.m., with a 1:00 p.m., prayer service Sunday at Northview " North Mankato Mortuary in North Mankato. Visitation continues one hour before the services at the church on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Nicollet County Chapter of the American Cancer Society or Mayo Clinic Health Systems Hospice Program.

Darla (Russell) Laven was born September 18, 1942 to Hugh and Mae Russell. She graduated from St. Clair High School in 1960. She enjoyed accounting and worked at Johnson Dry Cleaners and Norwest Bank from 1960 " 1965.

On May 9, 1964 she married the love of her life, Bernie Laven, at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Nicollet. They lovingly raised four children: Sr. Gloria Therese, (Lori), Lisa, Kim and Justin. After raising her children, Darla worked for 8 years as a Home Health Aid for Nicollet County. For 18 years she worked with a wonderful group of co-workers at Carlson Craft in the Accounts Receivable department.

Darla loved spending time with friends, vacationing with Bernie, bargain shopping, going to her annual girls' get together, planting flowers that drew birds and butterflies to her gardens, and most of all, spending time with her five precious grandchildren going to football games, having tea parties, attending dance recitals, and just being together as family. Darla was a member of Belgrade Avenue United Methodist Church for 30 + years and served as a Lay Shepherd. She was known as a woman who always had a kind word, a deep faith and a great fighting spirit.

She fought the good fight and finished the race at 8:00pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 after a 4 " year battle with cancer. The Laven family is grateful for the loving, professional care provided by the Mayo Clinic Hospice and the 4th floor nursing staff at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Mankato. The family also sends a special thank you to Karen Winters, who became a faithful friend through all the seasons of life.

Darla is survived by her husband, Bernie of rural North Mankato; three children, Sr. Gloria Theresa (Lori) of Alhambra, CA, Kim (Mick) Thompson of New Prague, and Justin (Brenda) Laven of Nicollet; five grandchildren, Whitney and Teagan Thompson; Tyler, Allison, and Jordan Laven; sister, Sandra (Gary) Gilderhus of Owatonna; brother, Steve (Carolyn) Russell of Lakeville; sister-in-law, Rose (Jim) Schmitz of North Mankato; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Lisa Laven 2005; sister-in-law, Arlene Laven; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, LeRoy and Phyllis Laven.