James "Jim" Swenson

James ‘Jim’ D. Swenson, age 88 of Litchfield, MN died on Saturday October 12, 2024 at the Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield, MN. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday October 18, 2024 at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church. A private burial will be held at Ripley Cemetery, Litchfield, MN, at a later date. Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard.

James ‘Jim’ Dudley Swenson, the son of A. Kenneth and Minnie (Fangmeier) Swenson was born on July 23, 1936 in Willmar, MN. Growing up he was known as ’Jimmy’ by his family and cousins. Jim graduated from Willmar High School in 1954. He attended the University of Minnesota for two years before enlisting in the US army. In 1959, after his army service, Jim worked at 3-M in St. Paul and enrolled in night school at the University of Minnesota. He was united in marriage to Roberta Nelson on August 26, 1961 at the Rosendale Lutheran Church. They lived in Fridley before moving to Litchfield in 1971, when Jim opened Swenson Oil; delivering bulk oil and running two full-service gas stations in Litchfield and Atwater until selling the business in 1986.

Jim began working as a substitute clerk at the Watkins Post Office and this started the next chapter of his career, working 20 years for the Post Office in Litchfield, Watkins, Darwin and Cokato, retiring in 2002. Jim was active in the community and served on the City Council as well as a Meeker County Commissioner for two terms. He was active on many committees over the years including: the Litchfield building and grounds, waste management, Meeker County Public Transit Board, Tri-County Public Health Board, Meeker County Extension Board, Woodland Mental Center Board, Prime West Health Insurance, ProWorks, Social Services and the State Health Improvement Plan. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Litchfield Lions Club, faithfully serving 52 years. After Roberta gave Jim a gift of a pilot training hours, he soon rekindled his love of flying. Over the years he co-owned an airplane and shared an airport hangar with good friends. Jim enjoyed having coffee and breakfast with his coffee buddies, music and theater, gardening, golfing and watching his grandson Christopher play golf and taking care of his house and lawn.

Jim is survived by his wife Roberta of Litchfield, MN; son Kevin (Janet) Swenson of Fergus Falls, MN and their children; son Christopher of Fergus Falls, Jennifer (Dayton) Sternhagen of Hoffman, great granddaughter Lena Sternhagen and daughter Susan (Corrie) Volinkaty of Reno, NV; sisters Marjorie Larson and Jane (Bill) Spolar; brother-in-law Gary Grunau; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents A. Kenneth and Minnie; brother Curt; sister Marcia; brother-in-law Gus; and sister-in-law June.

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