Pearl M. Swenson, age 94, of rural Isanti passed away on Thursday March 20, 2014 at Gracewood Assisted Living, North Branch.
She was born to Ole and Minnie (Tapper) Johnson on September 20, 1919 in Braham, Minnesota. She grew up around the Braham area and attended the Grass Lake School. She left school at an early age to assist her mother in raising her brothers and sisters. Pearl and her best friend Vivian Ostrom, began waitressing at the Arlington Hotel in Cambridge where she met her future husband Sheldon Swenson. They were married in Rock Island, Illinois, on March 3, 1941. Three children were born to this union, Ted Swenson, Carol (Swenson) Johnson and Jim Swenson. They initially lived in Minnetonka for a brief time before moving to Superior, Wisconsin as Sheldon began working at the shipyard. They finally settled on a small farm in rural Isanti where Pearl became a fulltime homemaker.
Sheldon continued welding around the state so Pearl began taking care of all the farm chores with the help of her children. Pearl began raising strawberries, selling them locally and at the farmers market in the Twin Cities. Several years later Pearl began working at the local Milk Powder Plant in Isanti which she enjoyed very much, because many of her neighbors also worked there. After Sheldon passed away she began working at the Army Ammunition Plant in New Brighton. Her next job was as a cashier at Bobs Super Valu in Cambridge, until she retired at the age of 65. Pearl enjoyed many activities including fishing, trapping, hunting, gardening, cooking and baking, playing cards, and just enjoying life with her children and grandchildren. She was a very kind and loving person always greeting everyone with a smile. She had numerous friends and enjoyed all the people she worked with.
Pearl was preceded in death by her parents; Ole and Minnie Johnson, husband Sheldon Swenson, brothers Karl, William, Kermit, Robert, and Emmett Johnson, sister Evelyn (Johnson) Stucky and great grandson Tanner Swenson.
Pearl is survived by and will be lovingly remembered by her son Ted Swenson and wife Cora of Isanti, son Jim Swenson and wife Mary of Isanti and daughter Carol (Swenson) and husband Carrol Johnson of Cambridge, grandson Jim Swenson and wife Krista of Elizabeth, Colorado, grandson Jeremy Swenson and wife Jennifer of East Bethel, grandson Nathan Anderson and wife Kathy of St. Paul, granddaughter Shirley Johnson of Cambridge, grandson Tom Johnson and wife Bonnie of St. Paul, granddaughter Debbie Tacheny and Kevin of Woodbury, grandson Steven Swenson and Laura of Zimmerman, grandson Mike Swenson and wife Rachel of Las Vegas, Nevada, grandson Christopher Swenson and wife Kimberly of Ottawa, Canada plus 18 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
There will be a visitation service at the Strike Funeral Home Isanti Chapel, 5 to 8 P.M. Friday evening March 28th. The Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 29th at 2 p.m. at the Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel with visitation also one hour prior to the service. Pastor Bob Venneman will be officiating. Music provided by Mary Falk and Katy Gleason. Pallbearers are Jeremy Swenson, Jim Swenson, Tom Johnson, Nathan Anderson, Steven Swenson, Christopher Swenson. Honorary Pallbearers are Mike Swenson, Jorden Swenson, Ryan Anderson, Aaron Anderson, Kevin Tacheny, Travis Johnson, Lance Johnson. Interment will be at the Isanti Union Cemetery immediately following the service. Lunch will be served at the Strike Funeral Home reception room following the interment.