Elinor L. Swenson

Elinor Lucille Huebner Swenson died Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at Twin Valley, Minnesota due to heart and lung complications at age 93. Elinor was born November 14, 1918 on a farm near Crete, North Dakota to Adolph and Mary (Jakel) Huebner and baptized at St. Charles Catholic Church in Oakes, North Dakota. She was the second of eight children. Even as a child, Elinor was a rock to her family. She was strength to her father, leading her younger brothers in milking cows and other farm work. She was a source of courage to her older sister, Mary Ann, traveling to school together, helping with Mary’s diabetic needs and completing two grades in one year so that they attended and graduated from High School together in 1935. After high school, she spent five years as a care giver to her neighbors assisting women in times of childbirth and illness. In 1941, she moved to Fargo supporting herself as a waitress at Kelly’s Inn. There she met Lawrence Swenson. She converted to his faith and they were married October 1, 1942 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Twin Valley, Minnesota. She raised her two daughters in the Lutheran tradition serving six years as superintendent of Sunday school at Immanuel. She also farmed side-by-side with her husband for 31 years. In 1975, the farm land was sold to Duane Erickson. They continued to work for area businesses in janitorial/sanitation services until her husband was diagnosed with cancer. In 1994, she moved to town in Flom, Minnesota and provided hospice services for husband until his death June 19, 1994. One of her greatest joys was helping care for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Fargo, North Dakota. Her hobbies included gardening and crocheting. In 2007, Elinor moved to Valley Pines assisted living in Twin Valley. A year later, she was hospitalized for a broken hip and moved to the Twin Valley Living Center where she passed on. Elinor is survived by a daughter, Marjorie Spielman of Twin Valley, MN; grandchildren, June (Mike) Stine and James (Melissa) Spielman, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Aaron and David Stine, Isabella and Ivy Spielman all of Fargo, ND; a sister, Marlys Moilanen of Meza, AZ and a brother Bill Huebner of Oakes, ND and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Jean Swenson and five brothers and sisters. Funeral Services were held on Saturday, April 14th, 2012 at 3:00 PM in Aspelund Lutheran Church, rural Flom, MN. Visitation was be one hour before services at the church on Saturday. Officiating was be Pastor Al Brooks with Carol Johnson serving as organist and Jeanine Ehnert serving as vocalist. Pallbearers were Duane Johnson, Lyle Bakke, Steve Albertson, Gary Langerud, Arvid Swenson and Aaron Swenson. Honorary pallbearers were all of Elinor’s nieces and nephews. Interment was in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Twin valley.

Elinor L. Swenson

November 15, 1918 - April 11, 2012