Patricia "Patti" L. Swenson

Patricia “Patti” LaVon Swenson was born on June 1, 1956 in Luverne, Minnesota to Arnold and Jessie (Ellefson) Wenzel. She grew up on a small family farm near Hardwick, Minnesota and attended Luverne Public School. She was baptized and confirmed at the Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. She graduated from Luverne High School then moved to Worthington, Minnesota and on to Rochester, Minnesota where she worked as an LPN at St. Mary’s Hospital. In February of 1977, Patti traveled to Porta Velho, Brazil as a missionary nurse on base with Paymui Tribe with Wycliffe Bible Translators. She returned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in August of 1977, working as an LPN for Avera McKennan Hospital on 1E. In May of 1978, Patti transferred to a Central Plains family practice clinic with Dr. Clark, where she remained until January of 1981. In October of 1979, Patti married the love of her life, David Swenson at the Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. and the couple moved to Luverne, Minnesota. She began working as a receptionist for Rock County Family Services while she obtained her Registered Nurse degree at Augustana University. After becoming a licensed RN, Patti worked at Avera McKennan Hospital in the Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant units. In December of 1989, she moved to her home in Beaver Creek, where she remained through the rest of her life. She continued working at Avera until March of 2020. After retirement, her love and passion for horses continued.  She had been serving as a volunteer at Rock Ranch and upon retirement she took the necessary training to become an equine therapist.  As this passion grew, she started caring for the horses at Valley Springs Farms and became part of their family. On Saturday, April 8, while surrounded by her loving family at the Sanford Hospice Cottage, Patti went to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 66 years, 10 months, and 7 days.

Patti was an active member of the Palisade Lutheran Church in rural Garretson, South Dakota, serving as a deacon, attending bible studies and retreats, and serving as a delegate to the churchwide Synod assemblies. She volunteered riding lessons at the Rock Ranch and deeply enjoyed riding horses. She also enjoyed shade gardening and worked hard to sow beauty into everything she did. She was especially fond of her family and loved to spend time with them. She is lovingly remembered by her family as a kind, compassionate, loving, and caring person.

Memorials may be directed to the Rock Ranch for the Equine Assisted Therapy Program (Rock Ranch, 355 40th Ave., Hills, MN 56138).