Carol J. Swenson

Carol Jean Swenson, 79, passed away on September 26, 2024 at The Lakes at Stillwater, Minnesota.

She entered hospice care the previous month. She was preceded in death by her older brother Luke Davich and younger sister Marsha. Her parents were Edmee and Luke Davich of Hibbing, Minnesota.

Carol graduated from Hibbing High School. Her education includes the University of Minnesota. Marvin Dunnetta, her college advisor, encouraged her further education to nearly obtaining her Ph.D. degree. Carol was Personnel Director for Anoka-Hennepin School District. She also liked statistics, as she used in her numerous papers to measure variability.

Carol was an excellent tennis player, winning many trophies across the Iron Range and a Duluth Private Tennis Club.

Her mother, Edmee, encouraged Carol in many areas of life, from sewing prom dresses for friends and even her wedding dress. She married Douglas Swenson on April 27,1968.

Edmee also encouraged Carol to be active in outdoor sports. She became one of the first canoe guides in the Boundary Waters with Canada.

In 1983, Carol was awarded the Bush Public School Executive Fellows Program. The Minnesota Association of Personnel Administrators in appreciation of her service, elected her as President for the term of 1983-1984.

She enjoyed traveling to other countries, especially France, Italy, and England. She liked to say, “Pulled a suitcase hand in hand with Doug” throughout Europe. 

She was employed by General Mills in the development of new food products at their research facility. Carol will be missed by numerous friends and employees. 

She valued language, including French, Italian, and Spanish, being fluent in all.

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Doug Swenson of Stillwater, MN; nephews and nieces Matt Davich of White Bear Lake, MN, Dan Davich of Andover, MN; Patrick Davich of Kansas City, MO; Dane Swenson, Debra (Strilich) Marks, Wanda (Strilich) Olinyk, Donna (Strilich) Moran, Lee Ann Swenson-Juul, Marie (Strilich) Anderson, and Carol (Swenson) Davies.

Mass of Christian Burial for Carol will be at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hibbing, Minnesota on October 17, 2024 at 1:00pm. Visitation will be held a half hour prior to the service starting at 12:30pm. The service will be livestreamed which can be accessed through the Dougherty Funeral Home website through Carol's obituary page.  A private interment will be held at a later date.