Red Lake Falls – Darrel Swenson of Red Lake Falls, passed away on Monday, September 18, 2017 at Sanford Medical Center in Thief River Falls, with his loving family by his side.
Mass of Christian burial was held on Friday, September 22, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls. Burial was held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery near Red Lake Falls.
Darrel Arthur Swenson was born April 4, 1938 at Holt, son of Arthur and Myrtle (King) Swenson. Myrtle passed away and Arthur was united in marriage to Elizabeth Copeland.
Arthur attended country school in Rosewood and graduated from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls. He went on to serve in the Army National Guard.
On June 25, 1960 Darrel was united in marriage to Shirley Knott at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls. In 1962, they moved to Red Lake Falls and raised their four children.
Darrel was a police officer, owned Darrel’s Conoco, worked at Cenex and owned Darrel’s Repair. He was instrumental in starting the voluntary ambulance, from which he retired after 25 years of service, and was an orderly at Mt. St. Benedict in Crookston. Darrel was also a bus driver/maintenance man at Hillcrest Nursing Home and was a courtesy van driver for Dakota Clinic.
Darrel enjoyed gardening, small engine repair, weekly card games with friends, bowling, baking, making pickles and peanut brittle, camping, hunting and fishing, as well as playing many instruments. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Darrel is survived by his children Brian (Kathy) Swenson of Fargo, ND, Bradley (Dawn) Swenson of Red Lake Falls, Sheryl (Erik) Beitel of Thief River Falls, Stacey Papenfuss of Robbinsdale: grandchildren Ross (Sarah), Logan (Haley) and Preston (Chelsey) Swenson, Shelby (Derek) and Kristina (Preston) Swenson, Regan (Marissa) and Cody Hawk, Ashley (Nick), Lynzy and Sydnee Beitel, Alexis, John and Trace Papenfuss, great-grandchildren Ayden, Lilly, Skylar, Haedynn, Carter, Ashton, Bradley and Bryleigh. Brothers Allen Swenson, Billy (Angie) Copeland; sisters Carolyn (Rodney) Grandstrand, Marion (Glenn) Halvorson; sisters-in-law Eva Lundquist, Loretta Knott; brothers-in-law Orville (Gen) Knott and Floyd Erickson.
Arthur is preceded in death by his wife Shirley on October 7, 2013, sisters Virginia McGlynn, Arlene Erickson; brothers Gene Copeland and Leland Copeland.
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