Gene Lloyd Swenson, Hinckley, died on Wednesday, July 26, 2000 at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, where he had been taken because of poor health. He was 71 years old.

He was born on Sept. 3, 1928 on the family homestead near Fulton, SD, to Joseph Delbert and Elizabeth (Blck) Swenson. Gene entered the U.S. Air Force serving as a meteorolgist for 22 years, retiring in 1970 with the rank of senior master sergeant.

On Dec. 20, 1951, he married Mary Katherine Olson. After Gene retired from the Air Force he owned and operated Gene's Upholstery in Bellevue, NE from 1970 to 1981. The family moved to a dairy farm near Hinckley about 1981. Gene enjoyed woodworking and gardening.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, sons and daughters-inlaw Keith and Barbara Swenson, Volin, SD; and Phillip and Robbin Swenson, Hinckley; four grandchildren, Sarah, Nicholas, Robert and Kelly Swenson, three sisters, Martha Davies, Tyndal, SD, Lois Orr, Lead, SD; and Shirley Wolters, Woonsocket, SD; three brothers, Joseph, Vancouver, WA; Wayne, Anoka, and Paul of Laurel, MT. Gene was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral srevices were held on Sunday, July 30 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hinckley. The Rev. Paul Mundinger officated, Joan Gimpl was organist.

Casketbearers were Jim Davies, Mike Swenson, Mickey Ovick, Jeffrey Leland Glass, Richard Johnson and John A. Von Rueden. Burial was at Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City.

Published in the Pine City Pioneer Aug. 10, 2000.