Ronald Leroy Swenson
May 22, 1935 ~ August 15, 2023
Ron L. Swenson, 88, Brandon, died Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at the Dell Rapids Hospital, after recent health-related issues.
Visitation with family present will be 5-7pm, Monday, August 21, 2023, at Heartland Funeral Home. Memorial Services will be 1pm, Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at Swedona Covenant Church. Burial will follow at the Church Cemetery.
Ronald Leroy Swenson was born May 22, 1935, to Myron & Kathryn (Kennedy) Swenson in Sioux Falls, SD. He attended Brandon country school and graduated from Brandon Valley High School in 1953.
Ron married Ruthe Archer in 1956. They had three children; Tim, Penne, and Jill. They moved around for his job with Armour Co. and the Sioux Falls Stock Yards, where he was head hog buyer. The family settled down in Welcome, MN, in 1971. Ron later moved onto his dad’s farm in Garretson. He retired in 1996 and moved into Brandon. Ron also enjoyed wintering in Apache Junction, AZ.
Ron loved farming, anything to do with John Deer farming equipment, and watching sports; especially the Vikings and the Twins. Visiting with his friends and family was also very dear to Ron.
Ron was a member of Swedona Covenant Church in Brandon and the Brandon AA organization and was very proud of his 30-plus years of sobriety. His motto was “One day at a Time” which helped him get through his health struggles the last couple of years. Ron had recently moved into Assisted Living in Dell Rapids and then to Palisades Manor in Garretson.
He is survived by his son, Tim; daughter, Penne (Bruce) Swenson; grandson, Timmie; one brother, Bill; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Jill; brother, Lloyd; and sisters, Liz and Deb.
Memories from 1953, 1954:
We, the DeRaad family, moved to SD in March 1953, to the farm place directly across the road from Myron, Ronnie, and Lloyd. From that time onward the two families worked together and played together – mostly work in those days! Our shared work efforts included harvesting hay, other crops, and rounding up the cattle, hogs, and chickens as the seasons demanded. Play was primarily winter basketball in the haymow of our barn and involved Ronnie, LLoyd, Ralph, Duane, myself, our father, and maybe Earl Egge. All this continued/and until, one-by-one, each of the boys moved on to life after the farm. Those of us remaining have precious memories of our time and experiences working together with members of the Swenson family. (And a multitude of Stories still bear recounting – ‘remember when…!)