Robert "Bob" Swenson

Robert "Bob" Gene Swenson was born on June 6, 1935 to Wilford and Marion (Goembel) Swenson at the Luverne Community Hospital in Luverne, Minnesota. He attended Luverne and Magnolia Schools. He spent his summers with George Becker’s family on their farm near Magnolia, Minnesota. He lived with their family while attending high school and graduated from Magnolia High School in 1955. After high school, he attended Worthington Community College for one semester. He then worked for Alvin Kramer on his farm for several years before farming on his own. He served in the Sioux Falls Air National Guard from 1958 to 1964. He also served on the Magnolia School Board for nine years and was a member of the Magnolia United Methodist Church and Magnolia Booster Club. Bob married Margaret Smith on September 10, 1960 in Luverne. The couple lived in town for six months. In the spring of 1961, they moved to a farm northeast of Luverne, which they later purchased. Bob continued farming for Alvin Kramer for several years in addition to his own farm. In 1984, he started working for Ehde Brothers Mink Farms during the winter months. He semi-retired from farming in 2003, but kept his livestock until 2010, when he fully retired.

On Sunday, May 28, 2023, Bob died peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 22 days.

Bob enjoyed his older John Deere tractors – keeping them painted and cleaned better than his other vehicles. He enjoyed horses and raising stock cows, and loved seeing the baby calves in the spring. He really enjoyed going to the Kenneth coffee shop in Kenneth, Minnesota and also loved keeping his yard mowed and setting out many ornaments throughout it.

Bob is survived by his wife, Margaret; two daughters, Pamela (Cris) Lewis of Dayton, Nevada, Jill Kruger of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; three siblings, David Swenson of Beaver Creek, Minnesota, Carol (Roger) Krinke of Belview, Minnesota, and Ken Swenson of Luverne; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty Ellers; brother, Dennis Swenson; and sister-in-law, Patti Swenson.