Obituary of Vernon Swenson

Reverend Vernon Swenson died Friday, July 23, 2010. He was a resident at Riverview Estates, Marquette. He had suffered a stroke in 2007, with gradually deteriorating health. Rev. Vernon Swenson was born October 3, 1923, in Smolan, Kansas, the son of Carl and Esther Swenson. He was baptized November 17, 1923, in Salemsborg Lutheran Church, Kansas, and was confirmed there on June 20, 1938. He attended Cottonwood Falls Grade School, Assaria High School, Lutheran Bible Institute, Bethany College, Augustana Seminary, Kennedy School of Missions, and Kansas State University. He served as a cook and Chaplain Assistant in the Navy at the end of World War II. I n the fall of 1947, he met Doris Strandberg at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They were married on August 14, 1949, at Sharon Lutheran in Sharon Springs, Kansas. From this union four children were born: two sons, Daniel Swenson (1950) and wife, Kathy, of Manhattan, Kansas; David Swenson (1954-2007) and widow, Cherie, of Rosebug, Oregon; two daughters, Sharon Barber (1956) and husband, Mark, of Lindsborg; Rebekah Peterson (1958) and husband, Tim, of Monument, Kansas. Doris and Vernon were also blessed with seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. After Rev. Swenson was ordained in 1954, both Vernon and Doris were commissioned as missionaries to Africa on September 10th of that year. From 1954 to 1969, Vernon and Doris served in various calls in Tanzania. They returned to the United States and served calls in Iowa and Kansas from 1969 to 1973. In 1973, they returned to Africa and served in Gbarnga, Liberia until 1976. After returning from Africa, Vernon and Doris served calls in Alberta, Canada, from 1976 to 1985. Vernon and Doris returned to the United States and served parishes in Kansas from 1985 to 1995. They retired to Lindsborg, Kansas, in 1995, where they remained faithful members of Bethany Lutheran Church. Reverend Swenson was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Bernice Mahoney, two brothers, Ivan and Edgar, of Lindsborg and Smolan, Kansas, and his son, David. Vernon's life was a role model in putting your beliefs to action. His primary focus was the Lutheran Church and living in Christ's footsteps. He was not materialistic, living frugally and with commitment to the environment. He planted trees wherever he lived and took pride in vegetable gardening. He was a partner in housework, cooking, diapering and rinsing cloth diapers in the toilet. He was committed to fairness and racial equality. He had many talents: preaching, teaching, mechanical invention (including an ox cart, small pulling tractor, water supply pumps, and solar panel water heaters and ovens). As a missionary in Africa, he served as the principal at Kinampanda Teacher Training Center, worked to found farmer's co-ops and develop small farm machinery, was the farm manager at the Iambi Leprosarium, used his financial training as missionary treasurer and business manager, served as parish pastor at Wembere, and taught at the Mwika Bible School on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. In Liberia, he lectured at the Gbarnga School of Theology. After returning to the United States, he helped establish lay ministries to make the church accessible in areas of declining population. Although he traveled around the world, he always loved Kansas and farming. Other accomplishments include: climbing Kilamanjaro; packing a family of six with all luggage for an overseas trip into a Volkswagen beetle; assembling a John Deere combine without the instruction manual; and growing a huge sunflower with the picture published in the Lindsborg News Record. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, July 29 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Lindsborg, Kansas. His memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 30, at Bethany Lutheran Church. Memorials are suggested to the African Missions of the ELCA c/o Bethany Lutheran Church or to Bethany Lutheran Church, Lindsborg. "Called to listen to the needs of others, even those unspoken."