Marilyn E. Nord, 95, of Rochester, died on September 11, 2021 at St. Mary's Hospital Rochester, MN.

Marilyn Elizabeth Swarthout was born January 24, 1926 to Merle and Olive (Cowden) Swarthout. She graduated from Pine Island High school in 1944. Marilyn worked at Woolworth, Waters Connolly, Montgomery Ward, Kinney Shoes Children Bootery as manager, Flowerama, Telex and Joan Fabrics as well as doing daycare for three of her grandchildren for 10 years. She met Floyd Nord and they were married in August of 1947. They were married 68 years until Floyd's death in 2016. They made their home in several places through being transferred by the Kinney Shoe Corporation for which Floyd was a manager in Superior, WI; Richfield, MN; Minot, ND and finally settling back to Rochester raising their three daughters and remaining until her death.

Marilyn was a charter member of the Eagles Women Axillary and the VFW Women Axillary.

Marilyn loved to crochet and sew, selling her creations at many craft sales. She was a gardener, loved fishing, going up to Northern Minnesota with family especially her grandchildren. She did word search, color books and spent many years working on the family history.

In 2019, she moved to River Bend Assisted living and was active in playing 500, poker, bingo, exercising, painting, and going to devotion. She made many new friends with Barb and Elvin Floden being her closest and dearest companions.

Marilyn is survived by her three daughters, Nadine Nord of Austin, Linda (Donovan) Jackson of Mazeppa and Cynthia (Patrick) Nixa of Rochester; 11 grandchildren; 21 Great-grandchildren; 2 Great-great-grandchildren; sister, Louann Denny of Big Lake, and brother, Richard Swarthout of Aitkin and sister in-law, Patricia Swarthout of Rochester.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; grandson, Jamie Jackson; brothers, Glen, Carl, Clifford, and Wayne Swarthout; sisters, Elaine Swarthout and Shirley Murray; brother-in-laws, Laverne Denny, Morris Murray, Harold Nord, Carl Branstad, Jim Sullivan; sister in-laws, Joan Swarthout, Doris Nord, Evelyn Branstad and Marcella Sullivan.

Family and friends were always the most important thing in her life and daily phone call conversations will be greatly missed by her daughters.

The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 24, 2021 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Rev. Lisa Johnson officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.  The family requests all attendees to please wear a mask.  Burial will be in Pine Island Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to Paws and Claws Humane Society.

To view a live stream of the service click here

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com