Obituary of Clara Swenson

Clara Josephine Swenson, 88, of St. Paul passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2013, at the Lyngblomsten Care Center. She was born on September 29, 1924, in Wyanett Township, Minnesota, to Chris and Carrie (McCoy) Rod. Clara grew up in the Cambridge area where she attended country school and graduated from Cambridge High School. After high school, Clara moved to Minneapolis where she worked at the historic Richards Treat Cafeteria. She later was employed as a governess for a family that lived in Minnetonka, Minnesota. On October 7, 1944, she was united in marriage to Morris Swenson at the Spring Lake Lutheran Church near North Branch. Morris served in the Army of the United States during the period from February 13, 1945, to his date of separation on August 6, 1946. While Morris was participating in infantry basic training, Clara lived with her parents near Dalbo. She later moved to Little Rock, AR, where Morris was stationed. After Morris was discharged from the service, they would begin farming in Dalbo. In 1955, they bought a home in Shoreview and Morris would work for Minneapolis Moline before starting his long-term career with Unisys. Clara and Morris raised their ten children while living in Shoreview. Morris passed away in September 1986. Clara remained at their home in Shoreview until about 2002 when she moved to Walker Plaza, an assisted living home located in Anoka. The last nine years she was a resident at Lyngblomsten Care Center in St. Paul. As a young girl, Clara was active in the 4-H, and represented her group at the MN State Fair. She was an active member of Incarnation Lutheran Church in North Oaks and enjoyed serving as an election judge at her voting precinct in Shoreview. She enjoyed music, the mail, art, and reading daily devotions. Clara was very patriotic and had a big heart. She donated to several organizations and her family was the most important thing to her. She always put her children first, and her biggest role in life was that of mother. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Morris, infant son Timothy, son Richard, daughter-in-law Cathy Swenson, brothers Ralph and Harold Rod, and sisters Marian Delamater and Evelyn Malmquist. Clara is survived by her children Mary Skerbinc, Mark (Sharon), Kathie (Brian) Malloy, Chris (Terry), Cary, Polly (Steve) Berg, Jane (Doran) Whitledge, Claudia (Leon) Igras, and Laura (Steve) DeLong; daughter-in-law Colleen; 17 grandchildren, including Joshua Swenson, Jennifer Skerbinc, Rebecca Wirkkula, Nathan Skerbinc, Suzanne Nolte, Michael Swenson, Deborah Swenson, Stephanie Kass, Will Malloy, Hannah Conway, Timothy Swenson, Erik Berg, Katrina Igras, Peter Igras, Nicholas Igras, Andrew DeLong, and Amanda Weber; 13 great grandchildren, including Tylar and Raissa Mueller, Cody Wirkkula, Jacob, Sarah, Isaac, and Leah Swenson, Silas and Arthur Nolte, and Holly, Heidi, Evan, and Hope Berg; sister Ethel Galles, brothers Clifford (Betty) Rod and Marvin Rod, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends, including the many residents and caregivers at Lyngblomsten.