Elaine Thorson Swenson

Elaine Thorson Swenson, of Chisago City, died June 12 at  Parmly LifePointes Isabelle's House after a long struggle with liver disease and cancer.

She was born Nov. 19, 1931, in Omaha, NE. She graduated from the Lutheran Bible Institute, Mpls., in 1956, with Church Parish Worker certification. From 1956-59 she served Central Lutheran Church, Des Moines, IA, in Parish Work and youth ministry. December 26, 1959, she married Dean Swenson of St. Paul, in Omaha. After Dean's ordination as a pastor of the Augustana Lutheran Church, they studied in Maywood, IL, in preparation for missionary service.

June, 1961, they were commissioned by the Augustana Board of World Missions as missionaries to Tanganyika, East Africa and between 1966-69, they served a rural ministry experiment in Sask, Canada. Other assignments included; 1969-72, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Babbitt, MN, 1973-87, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Two Harbors, MN. 1987-1999, established a new mission congregation in Ocala FL. Moved to Chisago City, 2001.

Elaine is survived by husband Rev. Dean Swenson; son Rev. Luther (Lori) Swenson, DePere, WI; with grandsons Nathan and Matthew and granddaughter Kiersten Swenson; daughter Joy (Peter) Blackstad, Lakeville, MN; grandsons Marcus and David and granddaughter Kierra Blackstad; son Rev. Jonathan (Jana) Swenson, of Marion, IA, granddaughters Christina and Caitlyn Swenson.

Her funeral was Sunday, June 16, at the Lord of the Lakes Lutheran Church at US Hwy 8 and County Road 23. Interment at Chisago Lake Lutheran Cemetery in Center City, MN. Arrangements by Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom. Condolences may be left online at www.grandstrand fh.com