Marlys Swigerd

Marlys Swigerd, age 76, died June 10, 2018, at Ortonville Area Health Service Hospital.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. at Zion Lutheran Church in Ortonville with Pastor Ailsa Odom officiating.  Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 13, from 5 to 7 P.M. at the church and will continue one hour prior to services on Thursday.

Marlys Ann (Nielsen) Swigerd was born on January 16, 1942, in Fenton, IA to Marinus and Alma (Olsen) Nielsen.  In the late 1940’s, the family moved to Clinton, MN, where Marlys attended country school, was confirmed at Elim Lutheran Church, and attended Clinton High School.

Marlys married Lorance Hamann on October 18, 1958, they later divorced.  On January 24, 1975, Marlys was united in marriage to Robert Swigerd in Milbank, SD.  The couple lived in Ortonville until 1984, then moved to Wahpeton, ND, and resided there until August of 2005 when they returned to Ortonville.  Over the years, Marlys worked at National T Grocery Stores, Montgomery Ward, Cartwright Drug in Ortonville, MN, and Breck Drug in Breckenridge, MN.

Marlys and Bob loved spending time together.  They attended auctions, went antiquing, enjoyed canoeing, and listening to country music.  While living in Wahpeton, they would spend as much time as they could in their camper parked at Sunset View on Big Stone Lake, where their grandchildren loved to visit them.  Marlys was a loyal Minnesota Vikings fan who didn’t like to miss a game.  She grew beautiful flowers and had a green thumb which she would proudly say, “I got from my dad!”  She was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church and enjoyed helping out whenever they needed her.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 43 years, Robert; daughter, Darcy (Mike) Schloesser of Le Center, MN; step-children: Mark (Loretta) Swigerd of Ortonville, MN and Matt (Kari) Swigerd of Austin, MN; 12 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; a brother, Howard (Glenda) Nielsen of Marietta, GA; along with many nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Marlys was preceded in death by a daughter in infancy; a son, Blaine; step-daughter, Margo Berg; and her sisters: Mae Ardel Nielsen and Myrna (Wilfred) Kerstein.