Donald Swedberg, 80, Lake Crystal
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Donald David Swedberg, age 80, of Lake Crystal died Monday, June 18, 2007, at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church, Lake
Crystal, with the Rev. Randal Lubbers officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park, Mankato. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Lake Crystal Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at church on Friday.
Donald was born Oct. 19, 1926, to David and Freida (Toenges) Swedberg in Algona,
Iowa. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army from Jan. 3, 1945, to March 26, 1946 and was stationed in Japan and Korea. He received his honorary high school diploma in 2000 given to veterans who served during World War II. He was married to Betty Watts on April
5, 1946.
Betty died July 25, 1983. He then married Dorothy Splaine of Albert Lea on Nov. 4, 1983. Donald was a brick layer from 1946 to 1959. He started Swedberg Construction in 1959 and then Decorative Stone in 1978, retiring in 1986.
Donald was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he had been a deacon, elder, and Sunday school teacher. He was a member and past president of the Lake Crystal Lions, a member and past commander of American Legion Post 294 of Lake Crystal, and a member of the brick layers union. He received his private pilot&8217;s license at age 50, he enjoyed deer hunting, playing cards with his family, fishing and sharing his catch with others.
Donald is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Lake Crystal; three children, Gloria Luiken of Mankato, Gary (Karen) Swedberg of Lake Crystal and Karen (Michael) Santori of West St. Paul; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; four step-children: Steven (Charlene) Fink of Port Angeles, Wash., Charles (Karen) Fink of Sequim, Wash., Scott (Sue) Fink of Poulsbo, Wash., and Debra (Leo) Hager of Port Angeles, Wash.; seven step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; three brothers, Clarence (Edie) Swedberg of Madison, Wis., Merlyn (Marie) Swedberg of Mankato and Peter (Janice) Swedberg of Bridgeport, Neb.; sister, Lois Willaert of Mankato; two sisters-in-law, Virginia Swedberg of Mankato, Barbara Swedberg of Wichita, Kan.; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Donald was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty; daughter, Debra; granddaughter, Allie Marie both in 1985; two brothers, Ronald and David; sister, Elizabeth &8220;Toddy&8221; Rollings; and half sister, Rosetta Guest.
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.