Doris G. Swenson

Doris G. Swenson, 91, of Mahnomen, MN, died Friday, May 16, 2008 at Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley, MN. Doris Georgette Eklund, the daughter of David and Josephine (Evans) Eklund, was born February 21, 1917, in Ada, MN. She grew up in the Ada area in a large family of 12 brothers and sisters. In 1934, Doris was united in marriage to Gilman Lee. The couple moved to a farm near Mahnomen and raised their family. As a young mother, Doris was busy with the farm activities, was a member of the Homemakers Club, and helped the children with the 4-H organization. In March of 1960, Doris and Gilman purchased the Dairy Bar in Mahnomen. They operated that together, for only a few months, until Gilman’s death in November of that same year. Doris independently operated the restaurant for six and a half years before selling the business. In 1966, Doris married Maurice Swenson and they made their home in Ulen, MN. Doris was active in the Ulen community and worked part time for the Peterson Grocery Store for nine years. She and Maurice truly enjoyed their retirement years. They often traveled, spending winters in Texas and Florida. They also enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing trips, and the horse races. After Maurice’s death in 1981, Doris continued to make her home in Ulen until 1992. Once losing her eyesight she was forced to sell her home in Ulen and move into an apartment in Mahnomen. She continued to make her home in Mahnomen, until she entered the Twin Valley Living Center four years ago. Doris often expressed how truly safe and at home she felt at the Twin Valley Living Center and her family is forever grateful to the staff for their kindness and tender care. Doris was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Mahnomen where she was active in various committees through out the years. She took great pride in being a wonderful host to family and friends. She was a marvelous cook and therefore spent many hours baking her special breads, rolls, and pies. For many years, Doris made lefse and sold it to stores around the region. She also enjoyed canning and working in her gardens. Doris is survived by two sons, Ron (Nelda) Lee, Apple Valley, MN, and James (Sharon) Lee, Mahnomen; two daughters, Cheryl (Jack) Starkey, Mahnomen, and Cleone (Stanley) Heisler, Waubun, MN; a daughter-in-law, Sandra Lee, Cheyenne, WY; four brothers, Donald (Doris), Ulen, Lester (Clareen), Brainerd, MN, Vernon (Shirley), Aikin, MN, and Jerry (Maralee), Minneapolis, MN; two sisters, Helen Habedank, Garden Grove, CA, and Bernice Vivier, Milwaukee, WI; a brother-in-law, William Hammer, Milwaukee; and two sisters-in-law, Lorraine Eklund, Twin Valley, MN, and Vi Eklund, Ada, MN. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 23 great grand children, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; both of her husbands; one son, Dennis; two brothers; and four sisters. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 10 am at First Lutheran Church, Mahnomen, MN. Visitation will be Monday, May 19th from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm at the Anderson~Mattson Funeral Home, Mahnomen. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Burial will be in the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Ulen, MN.

Doris G. Swenson

February 21, 2008 - May 16, 2008