Alan A. Swennes - Cottonwood

Alan A. Swennes, age 89 of Cottonwood passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at the Clarkfield Care Center in Clarkfield. Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood. Visitation will start at noon on Saturday and continue until the time of service at the church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Online condolences may be placed at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family. Alan Arthur Swennes was born on March 21, 1925 in Clarkfield, Minnesota, Normania Township, the oldest child of Lee and Gladys (Martin) Swennes. He was baptized at the Methodist Church in Clarkfield and attended School District #105 until 1936. He then attended School District 67 in Lyon County and District 41 through the 8th grade. He attended Cottonwood High School and graduated as salutatorian in 1943. On August 14, 1948, Alan was united in marriage to Verna Espeland at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood. Their son Larry was born on April 16, 1952. They made their home in Cottonwood where they rented three different farms until they purchased a farm east of Cottonwood in 1967. Alan retired from farming in 1987 and remained on the farm until they built a house and moved into town in 1994. Alan was very active in his community and was involved with the Sons of Norway, various church boards, Lucas Township board, Cottonwood Creamery board, SW Dairy board, and Sunset Burial Association board. Over the years, they traveled to Colorado, California, South Carolina, Florida, Washington, Hawaii, and Louisiana. After Verna’s death, Alan made three trips to Norway, visiting the Swennes ancestral farms in Valdres and the Espeland farm in Hardinger. Alan passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at the Clarkfield Care Center in Clarkfield, MN at the age of 89 years. He is survived by his special friend Genevieve Morken, nieces and nephews, Jill and Steve Gernes, Jane Fox, Tom and Janet Stellpflug-Gunderson, Roger and Pam Hanson, Deanna and Jim Beaty, Luther and Jackie Hanson, Donna Erickson, and Rick and Teresa Hanson, and many friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Verna in 1995, son Larry in 1956, sister Wanda, brother Norman, and brother-in-law Tom Gunderson. Blessed be his memory.