Elnora S. Swenson

St. Charles, Elnora S. Swenson, 94, of St. Charles died Saturday morning June 9, 2012 at Golden Living Center in St. Charles. Elnora was born April 29, 1918 in Ottoson, Iowa to Nehemiah and Nettie (Anderson) Norem. She was raised in Iowa and the Westbrook, Minnesota area. Elnora married Clifford Swenson during a blizzard on January 1, 1937 in Westbrook. They farmed in the Westbrook area until moving to the Revere, MN area in 1966 to operate a grocery store. In 1973 they moved to Bailey, CO to manage the National Farmers Union Education Center, then moving to Huron, South Dakota in 1982 after retiring. Clifford died in 1987 and Elnora returned to Westbrook in 1988. In 2000 she moved to St. Charles to be near her son Don. Elnora entered Golden Living Center this February. Faith was an important part of Elnora's life. She served as a Sunday School teacher, a church board member in Huron, SD and Westbrook and was involved in starting a new Lutheran church in Bailey, CO. In Westbrook Elnora was a very active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Saint Charles. She was an avid seamstress who made an unknown number of quilts, many of which went to Lutheran World Relief. She served as a 4-H leader, was MN State Farmers Union Education Council member for 20 years and worked with the Heritage House Museum and Senior Center in Westbrook. Elnora is survived by five children; Donald (Sharon) Swenson of St. Charles, Inez (Clark) Koechel of Fond du Lac, WI, Kenneth (Jean) Swenson of Marshfield, WI, Kathryn Erickson of Thief River Falls and Leland (Kathy) Swenson of Centennial, CO, a daughter-in-law Marvel Swenson Phillips of Lakeville, 17 grandchildren, two step grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, five step great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, a sister Irene Peterson of Westbrook and a brother LeRoy Norem of Silver Springs, MD. She was preceded in death by her husband Clifford, a son Curtis, a brother Norris Norem, a grandson John Koechel, a son-in-law Roger Erickson and a grandson-in-law Jim Hahn. Services to Celebrate Elnora's life will be 11AM Friday June 22 at Faith Lutheran Church in St. Charles with the Reverend Steven McGinley officiating. Friends may call one hour before services at the church. There will be a service in Westbrook at Trinity Lutheran Church at 10:30 AM on Saturday June 23 with the Reverend Gene Alms officiating, followed by burial of Elnora's ashes at Westbrook Lutheran Cemetery. Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service of St. Charles is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share a memory of Elnora at her on-line guestbook www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dfAw5wPFrY