Lundell "Dell" Swenson

Lundell Dell Swenson, 77, left this earth for his heavenly home on Monday, March 30, 2009, at MedCenter One. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m, Saturday, April 4th at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1143 N. 26th Street, Bismarck, with Rev. Nadine Lehr officiating. Burial will be held at a later date at Eksjo Lutheran Cemetery rural Hawley, MN. Visitation will be held at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, from 12:00 Noon until 5:00 pm Friday, with a family prayer service beginning at 7:00 pm at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue at the church one hour before services on Saturday. Carl Adolph Lundell Swenson was born May 22, 1931, at Fargo, North Dakota, to Carl E. and Myrtle Lundell Swenson, and was raised on the family farm South of Hawley, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at Eksjo Lutheran Church where he was active in Luther League. He attended eight years at Solen, a one-room country school a mile from his home. For high school he took the train to Crookston, where he graduated from the Crookston Ag School in 1949. He attended 5 quarters at ND Agricultural College. Dell enlisted in the North Dakota Air National Guard in Fargo, and was called to active duty in April, 1951. He served for two years stationed at Valdosta, GA; Victorville, CA; and Keflavik, Iceland. After returning from the Guard, he enrolled at Concordia College, where he graduated with a degree in mathematics and a minor in education in May, 1955. He married Helen Celia Greenli of Dutton, Montana, on June 10, 1956. Delltaught one year at Antelope, Montana, and one year in Wolf Point, Montana, before moving to Bismarck in 1957. He attended summer school several summers and earned a Masters degree in math education at Montana State College, Bozeman, MT. He taught math at the old Bismarck Junior High before Hughes and Simle were built for four years, and then continued at Simle Junior High another 28 years. Dell and Helen were members of First Lutheran Church for 28 years where Dell taught Sunday School, served on the council, sang in the choir, attended Bible studies, and assisted with Boy Scouts and Explorer Scouts. He also served as Scoutmaster and helped one son achieve the rank of Life Scout and the other earned his Eagle Scout Award. Two grandsons also are Eagle Scouts. In 1979, Dell was honored at “Dell’s Day” for his work in scouting, and was presented with the Baden Powell Award. In 1986, Dell and Helen joined Lord of Life Lutheran Church where Dell also served on council, attended Men’s Prayer and Bible Study group, Young-at-Hearts, and sang in the choir. He sang tenor for 52 years in church choirs. Dell was a life member of the National Education Association. He served as President of the Bismarck Education Association and was a member of the National and State Council of Teachers of Math. He served on the local board of Lutheran Brotherhood Branch and Thrivent Branch as treasurer, and was a long-time member and past president of Three Crowns Swedish-American Association. After retiring from teaching, he worked at the State and District offices of the Dept. Of Transportation and the Bureau of Reclamation, as well as substitute teaching. He spent 20 summers working at the Northern Plains Research Center south of Mandan. In his spare time, Dell enjoyed reading, golf, fishing, and doing Sudoku puzzles, and justbeing with family and friends. For many years Dell volunteered every Wednesday morning at the N.D. State Heritage Museum as a docent. He also was a Tax Aide for the AARP, and recently became a tour guide at Buckstop Junction. Dell and Helen had four children: Timothy Dale, Thomas Alan, Crystal Layne, and Camilla Louise. Dell is survived by his devoted wife, Helen, and his four children: Tim of Fargo, Tomand his wife, Judy of Phoenix, AZ; Crystal and her husband, David Dahl, of Fargo; and Cammi and her husband, Tim Telshaw, of Prior Lake, MN. There are also seven grandchildren: Matthew and Daniel Swenson, Tucson and Phoenix, respectively; Michael, Markus, and Mitchell Dahl of Fargo; and Keara and Kayla Telshaw of Prior Lake. Dell has three sisters: Lucille David Witikko of New York Mills, MN: Kathryn Arne of Amory, WI; and Myrtle Ann Edward Thom of Richfield, MN; one brother-in-law, Everett Greenli of Mesa, AZ; one aunt, Muriel Swenson of Hawley, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; one infant brother, Walton Norman; and one brother-in-law, Ed Arne. Dell will be dearlymissed. May he rest in peace. Memorials may be given to Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Eksjo Lutheran Church, Three Crowns Swedish-American Association, or the Boy Scouts of America.

Lundell "Dell" Swenson

May 22, 1931 - March 30, 2009