Owen August Swenson

The funeral service for Owen August Swenson, of rural Nicollet, MN,  will he held on Monday, June 24, 2019 at 11:00 am at the Norseland Lutheran Church, rural St. Peter, MN, with Pastor Kyle Madson officiating. Visitation will be at the church on Sunday afternoon, June 23, 2019 from 3 – 7 p.m., and again on Monday, June 24, 2019 from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. before the funeral service at the church. St. Peter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Owen was called to his heavenly home on the morning of June 17, 2019 at Mayo Hospital in Mankato, MN. Owen was born on July 1, 1932 at the New Ulm, MN Hospital. He was baptized on August 7, 1932, and confirmed in the Christian faith on June 23, 1946 at the Norseland Lutheran Church.   He attended Norseland Christian Day School and graduated from Bethany Lutheran High School, Mankato, MN, in 1951. For a short time Owen attended the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture in St. Paul, MN.

Owen was united in marriage to Evelyn Lippmann on September 14, 1957 at the Fairfax Methodist Church in Fairfax, MN. They made their home on the family dairy farm in New Sweden Township in Nicollet County. Owen was a loving and wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and brother.  He always enjoyed time with his family who were the joy of his life.  He was a dedicated dairy farmer and especially enjoyed purebred Holstein cattle, and working with the Forest Lawn herd. He was a lifelong member of the Norseland Lutheran Church and was active in many church and community organizations.  For 40 years he served as the New Sweden township treasurer.  Owen and Evie enjoyed working on family genealogy and participating in many activities and events related to Owen’s Norwegian heritage.

Owen is survived by Evie, his loving wife of 61 years; children, Mark (Karen) Swenson, Plymouth, MN, and twins, Barb (Dan) Stuedemann, Plato, MN, and Bruce (Ruth) Swenson, Nicollet, MN; brother, Howard (Jane) Swenson, Nicollet, MN; sisters,  Mable Handel, Wichita Falls, TX, Karen (John) Radway, Lincoln, NE, and sister-in-law Sandie Swenson, Forest Lake, MN.;  brothers and sisters in-law, David and Louise Tweit, Gibbon, MN, and Jerry and Ellen Bauer, Clinton, WI;  grandchildren, Bryant (Abigail) Polzin, Beth (Brandon) Filzen, Laura (Ted) Leonard, Michael (Megan) Swenson, Klare (Josh) Gasow, Klea (Matt) Rettmann, Kasslin Swenson, and two step-granddaughters Paige and Brooke Stuedemann;  great-grandchildren, Nathan, Gus and Micah Leonard, Samuel Swenson, Hannah, Rory and Jacob Polzin, Liza, Larken, and Lottie Filzen, Hadley Farland, Aria Gasow, baby girl Gasow, Anders Rettmann and step-great- granddaughter Shay Stuedemann as well as many nieces and nephews.

Owen was preceded in death by parents, Maurice and Alice Swenson; brothers, Paul Swenson, and Douglas Swenson; sister, Shirley Olsen, brothers-in-law Robert Olsen and Harold Handel; nephews, Craig Handel, Joel Olsen, Greg Swenson, Thayer Radway, and Matthew Bauer; father and mother-in-law Henry and Marie Lippmann.

Serving as pallbearers are Bryant Polzin, Michael Swenson, Ted Leonard, Brandon Filzen, Josh Gasow, and Matt Rettmann. Honorary pallbearers are Beth Filzen, Laura Leonard, Klare Gasow, Klea Rettmann, Kasslin Swenson, Megan Swenson and Abigail Polzin.

Christian burial will be at the Norseland Lutheran Cemetery, Norseland, MN.

Memorials preferred to Norseland Lutheran Church or Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) Seminary.