Carla Marie Danielson-Merigold was born on October 15, 1964, in Moorhead, Minnesota, to Donald and Idella (Odden) Danielson. She spent the early years of her life in Rothsay, Minnesota, and when her parents divorced she moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota, to be raised by her mother, Idella, and stepfather, Waldo Haag.

Carla graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1983. She received no higher education, but learned enough from various clerical and administrative jobs as a young woman to develop a successful career in bookkeeping and accounting.

In 1987, she married Joe Stafford, and in 1993 gave birth to her only child, Zack, who they raised lovingly in and around Farmington, Minnesota, even in the years following their divorce. In 2015, Carla married Ken Merigold and found joy in her stepchildren, Landon and Rhianna.

Carla was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend who enjoyed cooking, gardening, music, and spending time in nature. She especially loved watching and feeding the wildlife that roamed the wooded meadow outside her home in Lakeville, Minnesota. She also found joy in traveling and made new friends wherever she went. Warm, welcoming, and funny, she had a gift for making people laugh and delighting in laughter with those around her. Carla loved people, and people loved Carla.

Carla passed away early in the morning on May 1, 2025 at M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, Minnesota, surrounded by her son, Zack, and husband, Ken. May she rest in peace.

Carla is survived by her husband, Ken Merigold; son, Zack Stafford; stepfather, Waldo Haag; stepchildren, Landon Merigold and Rhianna Merigold; brother, Dean Danielson; sister-in-law, Sue Danielson; niece, Dawn Danielson-Weller; nephews, Mitch Danielson and Reed Danielson;. She is preceded in death by her parents, Idella Haag and Donald Danielson; sister, Debra Danielson; aunt, Dorothy "Dot" Odden.

Memorial Service 1:00 PM Saturday May 10, 2025 at White Funerall Home 20134 Kenwood Tr., Lakeville, MN

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Carla's name to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota, or another organization of your choosing