Teckla Swenson, 91

Teckla J. Swenson, 91, Minneapolis, formerly of Starbuck, died Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 8 at 1:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Kensington with Pastor Kathryn Rothman officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at First Lutheran Cemetery in Kensington.

Teckla was born August 4, 1920 in rural Brandon, the daughter of John and Katie (Keranen) Hermanson. She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith in St Paul's Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church, and she attended country school at District 45. She grew to womanhood on the family farm in Urness Township.

On September 1, 1943 Teckla was united in marriage to Lester Swenson at the First Lutheran Church parsonage in Kensington by Pastor Anton Chell. Teckla became a member of First Lutheran in Kensington, and continued to be a member until her death.

For the next few years, Lester and Teckla made their home in Kensington, and in 1944 their daughter, DuVonne, was born. In 1948 they purchased a farm near Kensington where they farmed for the next 30 years, until retiring in 1979 and moving back into Kensington. After Lester passed away in 1988, Teckla continued to live in Kensington until 2005 when she moved to A Touch of Country in Starbuck, where she resided for more than six years. She then resided in Mt. Olivet Careview Home in Minneapolis for a brief time until her death.

Being born to Finnish immigrant parents, Teckla could fluently speak, read and write the Finnish language. She corresponded frequently with relatives in Finland, and in 1997 realized a lifelong dream when she traveled to Finland to meet several of her relatives.

Teckla was very active in church work, serving as LCW president for many years, circle leader, and a member of Naomi Bible Study group. In the past she also had been a Sunday school teacher. She loved planning and helping serve meals for various church functions, as well as cooking the church's traditional "egg coffee." She was a true "Lutheran Church Basement Lady."

Teckla also had many interests and hobbies. She loved cooking and baking, and preparing wonderful meals for friends and relatives. She also loved gardening, sewing, crocheting and other handiwork. She loved to sing, and as a young woman was asked to sing in Finnish for various services and funerals in her home church, St. Paul's.

She is survived by her daughter, DuVonne; five nieces and three nephews.

Teckla was preceded in death by her husband; three sisters; two brothers; one niece, and two nephews.

To send condolences to the family, visit the website www.hoplinhitchcockfuneralhome.com and click on obituaries.

Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

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Tags: obituaries, funeral

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