Dorothy M. Swenson

To join Dorothy's family for her Mass of Christian Burial please click on the Live Stream below her obituary.

Dorothy Mae Swenson, 85, of rural Gardner, ND, passed away Friday, January 2, 2026, in Edgewood Vista Assisted Living, Fargo, ND.

Dorothy Mae Arends was born February 20, 1940, on the family farm near Borup, MN. Dorothy was the 4th of 10 children born to Nicholas and Elizabeth (Meyer) Arends. Dorothy graduated from Borup High School in 1958. Following graduation, Dorothy moved to Fargo, where she worked for a short time with Northwestern Bell Telephone and Scheels.

She met the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” Swenson, at a roller-skating party in Perley while still in high school and the rest is history! Jerry and Dorothy were united in marriage September 30, 1961, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ada, MN. The couple established their home on the Swenson farm in rural Gardner, ND, where they raised four children, Karla, Bryan, Brad, and Kevin.

Dorothy was a devout Catholic. Church attendance and Christian fellowship were important to her. She had quiet, strong faith. Dorothy was an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and St. Johns Christian Women, Georgetown MN.

Dorothy dedicated over 40 years to her career with St. Luke’s/Merit Care Hospital in Fargo. She was very organized, and often the go-to person when employees had payroll issues. She was always proud to be a career woman that knew how to balance work and family. Following retirement, she spent countless hours volunteering with Merit Care/Sanford Guest Services. As a result of her lifelong dedication to Meritcare/Sanford, in 2012 she was honored to be included as a representative of Meritcare at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Sanford Hospital.

She took pride in being a homemaker in addition to working full time. Her house was spotless, and her floors were always waxed and polished to a shine. She was also a great cook. The kids and grandkids knew her for making donuts in volume. She would spend an entire Saturday making enough doughnuts to feed a small army. The same could be said in the fall when the apples were in season. With the assistance of grandkids, the kitchen on the farm was turned into an apple crisp assembly line. Everyone knew the freezer was always full of homemade treats, and if you went home hungry it was your own fault.

Dorothy never missed an opportunity to attend an activity or sporting event involving her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many trips were made throughout the area to watch and support her kids and grandkids. In addition, countless summer nights were spent watching her son-in-law and grandsons racing stock cars, something she enjoyed very much.

Her hobbies included reading, sewing and cooking. She enjoyed camping at Long Lake during the summer, not necessarily for the camping or the lake... but rather the opportunity to be with friends and family. She also talked fondly about her “sister “trips””. Nobody knows exactly what they entailed, (except the sisters...) only that they were memorable and fun.

Dorothy will be deeply missed by her friends and family, but we take comfort in knowing that she is at peace and no longer must deal with health complications and the frustration of not being in control of her life. We can also be encouraged knowing she is reunited with her children Kevin Swenson and Karla Johnson.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Gerald “Jerry” Swenson; children, Bryan (Jenny) Swenson, Dilworth, MN, and Brad (Leah) Swenson, Fort Ransom, ND; son-in-law, Greg Johnson, Harwood, ND; grandchildren, Michael (Tara) Johnson, Joshua Johnson, Marie (Travis) Roland, Kaitlyn (Nicholas) Paulson, Elizabeth (Travis) Robertson, Grace Johnson, Emily (Tom) Holmen, Jacob (Tori) Swenson, Luke Swenson, Laura (Greg) Chase, Noah Hoeft, Hannah Hoeft, Shaine Swenson, Paige (Maison) Davis, Payton (Brogan) Foertsch, and Fallon (Brent) Hebl; twenty-one great-grandchildren (and counting); siblings, Catherine Olson, Betty (Bob) Halvorson, John Arends, Francis (Darlena) Arends, Bill Arends, Dick (Gail) Arends, and Mary (David) Mehl; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her two children, she was preceded in death of by her parents, and her sisters Margaret Campbell and Marie Arends.

A Gathering of Family and Friends for Dorothy will be Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, with a 6:30 PM, Prayer Service in Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN.

Her Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Moorhead, MN. She will be laid to rest in Wild Rose Cemetery, Georgetown, MN.

(Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN)