Jennie Swalve, 84, Buffalo Center, Iowa

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Jennie Swalve, age 84, of Buffalo Center, Iowa, died Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center with Mr. Perry Aalgaard officiating.

Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Buffalo Center. The visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Winter Funeral Home, 414 First St. NW, Buffalo Center, and one hour before the service at the church.

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Jennie Minnie (Badje) Swalve was born July 30, 1921, in Bancroft, Iowa, to parents John and Lena (Johnson) Badje. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith at her home in Bancroft on May 25, 1925, and Jennie was confirmed June 27, 1937 at Zion Lutheran Church in Rake, Iowa. Jennie moved with her parents to a farm near Rake at the age of six years. She attended country school there.

Jennie was married to Evert Swalve on April 30, 1940, at the Fairmont Lutheran Church in Fairmont. They had two sons: John Larry and David Otto. Jennie and Evert moved to Kiester in 1965, and farmed in the area until their retirement in 1987. That year, they moved to Buffalo Center, Iowa, and lived there until their deaths.

Jennie was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center and enjoyed participating in circle and other groups within her church. Jennie also enjoyed flower gardening, embroidery, and baking. Most of all, she loved visits with her family, friends, and neighbors.

Cherishing her memory are her grandson, Michael Swalve and his wife Brenda of Albert Lea; granddaughter, Kristi Wildeman and great-grandson, Ian Wildeman, of Albert Lea; daughter-in-law, Sharon Herfendal and her husband Marlin of Albert Lea; two sisters: Bertha Irons of Buffalo Center, and Josephine Head and her husband Don of Marion, Ill.; four brothers: John Badje and his wife Arlly of Albert Lea, Carl Badje of Rake, Lawrence Badje and his wife Janice of Buffalo Center, and Joe Badje and Mary James of Rake; and many sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Evert; two sons: John and David; and her parents.