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Elvice Sawyer was born at home in Almelund on the 24th of May, 1938 to Arnold and Hazel Swenson.  She graduated from Chi High in 1956 and married Wayne Pierce in August of 1957.  

They lived on a small farm east of Shafer where they raised their four children; David (1958), Elaine (1960), Eileen (1961), and John (1963). Elvice lived in Minnesota until 1976 when the family moved to Glenwood, New Mexico where she lived for the next 41 years.  

Following the passing of her second husband, Bob Sawyer, she returned to the Chisago Lakes area in 2017.

Elvice was a lifelong church congregant, with Chisago Lake Lutheran Church being the last attended.  She had been an active member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taylors Falls teaching Sunday School and participating in the Ladies’ Aid Society.  She enjoyed singing in numerous church choirs as well.  

Elvice wore many hats over the years; Mother, wife, homemaker, factory worker, cook at Hazelden, owner and operator of the Whitewater Motel and Café in New Mexico.  She had a handful of passions in her life which included; blueberries, the color yellow, Hawaii, lobster, music, singing, crossword puzzles, Elvis Presley, Dairy Queen and the Minnesota State Fair!

She is survived by her four children; David Pierce (Teresa Conner), Elaine Pierce, Eileen Murray (David), John Pierce (Kazumi), five grandchildren; Elizabeth Murray Gagnon, Erica Murray, Elysia Murray, Conner Hite, Christopher Bailey and three great-grandchildren; Hailey, Evelyn, Nico, special cousin Mary Anne Wilberg, and numerous nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings and their spouses; Harvey and Darlene Swenson, Roger and Janet Tonsager, Tom and Linda Swenson and one grandchild, Erin Murray.

Services for Elvice will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15, at Chisago Lake Lutheran Church in Center City, MN. Interment will follow at the old Chisago Lake Cemetery in Center City, MN.

Arrangements by Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom, MN.  Condolences may be expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com.

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