Darlys N. Marko

Darlys N. Marko, 87, of Aberdeen, SD, died Saturday, August 3, at Angelhaus, Aberdeen.

Darlys was born July 31, 1937, at Aberdeen, SD. She was the fourteenth of fourteen children born to Louis and Jennie (Johnson) Nelson and is the twin sister of Marlys Ann (Nelson) Kraft. She grew up on a farm near Wetonka, SD. She attended elementary school in Wetonka and graduated from high school in Westport, SD, in 1956.

Darlys was united in marriage to Roger Marko on June 27, 1961, in Aberdeen. Darlys and Roger met early in life when visiting siblings. Roger’s brother Donnie married Darlys’ sister Lois in 1946, so they saw each other often. They also attended the same school. Darlys helped Roger on their farm west of Westport. She kept the books for Roger’s haystack moving business. From November 1960 to February 1972, she worked at Sears, Roebuck and Company in Aberdeen as a Credit Sales Manager. She also worked at the Hub City Livestock Office for ten years, from about 1983 to 1993.

Darlys loved to dance and would often attend the dances where Roger played with his polka band, “The Starliters.” She was a talented artist and made many beautiful ceramics. Darlys was famous for chocolate sheet cake. She and Roger loved getting together with friends and family for coffee. Darlys cared deeply for her family and was instrumental in keeping them together. She was a major contributor to the compilation of the Nelson (Nielsen) – Johnson Genealogy and Family Album and maintenance of the Nelson Family Tree.

Grateful for having shared Darlys’ life are sister Lois Marko and her twin sister Marlys Kraft, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding Darlys in death are her parents: Louis and Jennie; her husband: Roger; and her siblings: Florence Hinz, Melvin Nelson, Leslie Nelson, Theodore Nelson, Lucille Zweifel, Dorothy Heagley, Gladys Gullickson, Calvin Nelson, Donald Nelson, Betty Jane Schwartz, and Beverly Schilling.

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