Dennis “Denny” C. Swenson, age 79, of Arlington, SD, passed away from heart complications on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, at Sanford USD Medical Center and Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arlington, SD. Pastor Elisa McMullen will officiate. Music will be provided by Heidi Spilde as soloist and Shirley Olson as organist.
Visitation will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Johnson-Henry Funeral Home in Arlington.
Burial will take place at the Arlington Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren: Shelby (Kyle) Swenson Kretzschmar, Christian Swenson, Kaelynn Swenson, and Corey Swenson. Active pallbearers will be Ben Piehl, Chris Piehl, Eric Johnson, John Disbrow, Darin Syverson, and Scott Hansen.
Dennis “Denny” Swenson was born on Jan. 1, 1943, to Les and Emerald Swenson (Nielson) in Arlington, SD. He attended Arlington High School, graduating in 1961. Denny enlisted in the United States Navy on February 18, 1961, and was honorably discharged on November 16, 1966.
Dennis married Kathleen Syverson on March 8, 1969, at Lake Whitewood. The couple lived in Sioux Falls, SD, where Denny worked at John Morrell Company until 1987. Denae was born in 1970, John in 1972, and LaRae in 1978. The family relocated to Brandon, SD, in 1980. In 1988, Denny attended Pipestone, MN, for meat cutting school. Following that the family moved to Ellsworth, WI, and Denny worked at Hinck’s Family Food. Over time, Denny became a federal meat inspector working in Lexington, NE, until his retirement in 2005, when he moved to Arlington, SD.
Dennis was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Arlington American Legion. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping with his family, along with being an avid supporter of his grandchildren’s sporting events. He enjoyed his coffee groups and driving around in his later years. He was notorious for having a toothpick in his mouth and his big hugs.
Dennis is survived by his children: Denae Swenson of Sioux Falls, SD, John (Beth) Swenson of Brandon, SD, and LaRae Swenson of Brandon, SD; Kathleen Swenson, mother of his children, of Brandon, SD; grandchildren: Shelby (Kyle) Swenson Kretzschmar, Christian Swenson, Kaelynn Swenson, and Corey Swenson; and a host of cousins and friends.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Donald; and numerous aunts and uncles.
