Obituary of Jean Marie Swenson

Jean was born in Pike Lake, MN and spent her childhood in Canyon, MN. She attended Cotton
High School and DBU. She worked for 3M, Franklin Creamery, and Buds Women’s Shop.
Jean married John Swenson on Sept. 15 1951. They lived in Homecroft, where they raised their
family. They moved to Lake Eshquagama in 1977, returning to Duluth in 2012. Jean spent her
last six months at Suncrest Assisted Living in Cloquet. Jean repeatedly would say how
fortunate she was to find a place like Suncrest to spend her remaining time. She said the staff
was like a family. Jean’s family cannot thank the staff enough for the care she was given, going
above and beyond on what was expected of them.

Jean was always very active within the church. She taught Sunday and Bible School at St.
Peter Lutheran and Arnold Lutheran, and was a Eucheristic Minister and a Circle member at
Gethsemane Lutheran. Jean had currently been a member at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
Jean also liked being active in the community. She was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader and
worked with several charitable organizations. Jean was one of the first Hospice volunteers at
VRMC, visiting families in their homes and in the hospitals. Jean was under Hospice care from
the kind and dedicated people from St Croix Hospice. We told Mom that the excellent care
she was receiving was a result of all the good things she did as a Hospice volunteer.
Jean’s loves in her life were reading, knitting, flower gardening, traveling, camping, cooking,
fishing, and spending time with her family. Our fondest memories of our Mom was her love for
fishing, and enjoying her amazing meals.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband John, her parents Olivia and Ernest Lanthier,
sisters Pearl, Loraine, Ellen, Fay, Patricia, brothers Paul, James, Francis, and Robert.
She is survived by her children Jan (Mark), John (Linda), and Richard (Teri), grandchildren
Jennifer, John, Erik, Kevin, Sarah, and Sam, great grandchildren Tyler, Wyatt, Stasia, Izzy,
Markus, Joe, Nate, Ali, Emi, Eli, Ben, Kate, and her sister Evonne.

In loving memory of Jean, memorials can be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church 410
Arlington Ave. Duluth, MN. 55811 or to a church or charity of choice in the name of Jean.
Jean was very uneasy about people being at risk of COVID at her funeral. In light of this the
family has decided to have a small service at the church with only the immediate family.