Marlys Mildred Swenson, age 83, died from complications related to her long struggle with dementia on September 28, 2024 at Woodland Hill in Hudson, WI. She was born on February 9, 1941 in Sleepy Eye, MN, the daughter of Myron and Mildred Schneider. When she was 3 years old, her father died on the family farm in a tractor accident. Marlys lived with her mother and siblings in Sleepy Eye until her mother died of breast cancer when she 15. God gave her a new home when her grandparents willing agreed to care for the three children and the family moved to Comfrey, MN.

Marlys graduated from Comfrey High School in 1959 and majored in Elementary Education at Gustavus. There she got both a degree and a husband when Ralph Swenson called her to ask for a date. Five years later they were married at Faith Lutheran Church in Comfrey on June 6, 1964. Marlys was fond of saying that she was married on the 20th anniversary of D-Day.

From 1963-1967, Marlys taught at the Woodbury Elementary School. She resigned during the 1967 spring break as her son Paul was due in July. When Paul and Jodell finished elementary school, Marlys taught in Stillwater Elementary Schools for 19 years and also earned a Master’s degree in Education from UW in River Falls. She retired in 1996 so she could travel with Ralph on some of his business trips. After Ralph retired at the end of 1999, she and Ralph traveled extensively – including to China when Paul and his family were living there.

Marlys was a good cook and had a gift for hospitality that she extended to friends and family both in Hudson and during 17 winters when she and Ralph lived in a winter home in Green Valley, AZ. She enjoyed long walks, bridge, golf and was trained as a Stephen minister. Her mantra was “I like to play in the dirt” and she cared for shade gardens and a variety of potted plants and herbs. In retirement she learned to paint, wrote extensively about her life and spent a great deal of time reading and participating in multiple book clubs.

She is survived by her son, Paul (Courtney), Ponte Vedra, FL; daughter, Jodell, Minneapolis, MN; two grandsons – William, Minneapolis, MN; and Anders, Gainesville, FL; her brother Marvin, Denver, CO; and much loved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; sister, Norma Miller (Bruce). Marlys died in “full confidence that God has always gone before me, behind me, beside me, above me, and within me. I believe in a great and loving God.”

Visitation will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church-Downtown Campus, 920 Third St. Hudson, WI 54016 on Friday, October 11, 2024 starting at 2:00pm. A Memorial Service will begin at 3:00pm with a luncheon to follow. A private family Inurnment will take place at Willow River Cemetery.

Funeral Services entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson.

To watch service live online, please click HERE