Ione Swedlund, age 75, of Volga, passed away Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, unexpectedly at home from an apparent heart attack. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, at Abundant Life Church in Brookings with burial to follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitations will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.
Ione was born August 13, 1944, in Milbank to Elmer and Sylvia Tietjen. She was the second of eight children. Ione graduated from Wilmot High School in 1962. After graduation, she attended Hairstyling Academy in Sioux Falls. She married Willie Behlings in 1964, and had three children. In 1976, Ione married Ken Swedlund, also with three children, and their two families became one. She held various positions throughout her career including, cook at the Sioux Valley School District, Dietary Manager at United Retirement Center, sales at Midstates Flooring, home health care with Homecare of South Dakota, as well as a carpet cleaning business.
She was a kind, considerate person who was devoted to her husband, children, and grandchildren. She had a passion for helping the elderly, and was always helping her neighbors with household and outdoor chores. Ione was a Winter Texan, and spent her winters in Mission, Texas. She loved attending flea markets looking for the best deal. In her spare time, Ione and Ken bought, moved into, remodeled, and cleaned up acreages. So they moved often! In 1993, they took a year off and built a house in the Black Hills.
She is survived by six children, Troy (Lisa) Behlings of Volga, Brenda (Mike) Park of Evergreen, CO, Kristie (Chris) Ching of Bruce, Shad (Vicki) Swedlund of Brookings, Shane (Sheri) Swedlund of Sioux Falls, and Slade Swedlund of Hill City; 16 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; one sister, Arlys (Ed) Kraft of Sun City West, AZ; 2 brothers Dennis (Annie) Tietjen of Remer, MN, and Ron Tietjen of Spearfish; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Ken Swedlund; her parents, and her siblings Danny (Duke), Lee, Judy, and Doug.
Ione was dearly loved and will be missed greatly by family and friends.
