Beverly Ann Swenson, 84

Published 9:55 am Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Beverly Ann Swenson, 84, of Blooming Prairie, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie.

Swenson

She was born Jan. 3, 1930, to Palmer and Ora (Hanson) Johnson in Owatonna, Minnesota. Beverly attended rural school for one year and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1948. She married Joseph M. Swenson on Feb. 23, 1951, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie. They lived on the S.A. Selstad farm where Joe worked and Beverly took a job at Erickson’s grocery store for five years. In 1966 they purchased a farm near Blooming Prairie in Newry Township, Freeborn County, where they lived until Joe’s death in 2011 when Beverly moved into an apartment in Blooming Prairie. Beverly helped on the farm milking cows and doing field work. She started an upholstery business that lasted 58 years, meeting people from all over the area. Beverly and Joe spent many weekends going to antique shows, flea markets and auctions. Beverly was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. At Christmas there were always Norwegian treats of lefsa, rosettes, romme broo and krumkake. Beverly was a very active member of First Lutheran Church teaching Sunday school, circle, WELCA, lutefisk dinner and head of many church groups. She especially loved the time spent with her family.

Survivors include her children: Teryl (Don) Nelson of Byron, Randy (Pauline) Swenson of Geneva, Illinois, Jay (Renee) Swenson of Owatonna; seven grandchildren: Jeremy (Marie) Nelson of Rochester, Jill Nelson of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Andy (Megan) Swenson of Westfield, New Jersey, Nina (Josh) Overholser of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Bethany (Darren) Simoni of Algonquin, Illinois, Michael (fiancé Felicia) Swenson of Superior, Wisconsin, Kelli (Andrew) Anderson of Las Vegas, Nevada; 18 great-grandchildren; sisters: Marlys (Richard) Spinler of Austin, Hjordes (Bruce) Ebeling of Red Wing; sisters-in-law: Mary Ann Johnson of Blooming Prairie, Patricia Johnson of Austin, Sharon Johnson of Geneva, Rosemary “Toots” Dahl of Manly, Iowa, Sylvia Swenson of Blooming Prairie, Ardell Swenson of rural Austin; brothers-in-law: Allen (Nancy) Swenson of Brownsdale, Carl “Junior” (Diane) Swenson of Blooming Prairie; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph on May 10, 2011; four brothers: Darrell, David, and Gale, and Marvin in infancy; brothers-in law: Clayton and Hubert Swenson, Maynard Dahl; a niece Diane Dahl; nephew, Craig Spinler.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie with the Rev. Charles Leonard and the Rev. Heidi Heimgartner officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment is at First Lutheran Cemetery in rural Blooming Prairie. Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com. The family prefers memorials to Blooming Prairie Cancer Group or First Lutheran Church.