Shirley Swenson

Shirley Y. Swenson, age 91 of Sauk Centre, died after a 10-year journey with Alzheimer’s Disease on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 28 at First Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Rebecca Thomas officiating. Inurnment will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 29 at Svea Lutheran Cemetery in Svea, Minnesota.

Visitation will be from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the church on Monday.

Shirley Yvonne Nix was born May 3, 1928 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Frank and Esther (Ames) Nix. She grew up on the Iron Range in Bovey, Minnesota and went to school at Greenway High School in Coleraine, Minnesota. After high school, Shirley lived in Svea, Minnesota and was a homemaker most of her life. During her time in Svea, she worked at Willmar Poultry Company for 10 years. On May 10, 1947 she married Donald Swenson at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bovey. Donald and Shirley were members of Svea Lutheran Church where Shirley was active in the Ladies Aid, setting up communion, and volunteering in other areas. The couple moved to Sauk Centre in 1986 and became members of First Lutheran Church. Even though her life was spent in Svea and Sauk Centre for many years, her heart remained in Bovey and at the Danube Location in the Iron Range.

She enjoyed quilting, knitting, crocheting, gardening, and most of all, baking for her family. Donald and Shirley enjoyed travelling and spent many winters in Texas.

Survivors include her children, Cathy (Paul) Folland of St. Paul, Christy (John) Felling of Sauk Centre, John (Sheri) Swenson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Charlene (Michael) Olson of Bemidji, Tim (Gayle) Swenson of Sauk Centre; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and sister, Audrey Hein of Little Falls.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald Swenson on August 1, 2012; son, Tommy Swenson; grandson, Matthew Folland; sister, Agnes Hromyak; brother, Larry Nix; and one infant sister.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Svea Lutheran Church or CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Sauk Centre.