Irving Mamen Swenson, known as “Swede”, was born September 25, 1920 in Minneapolis, MN to Arthur and Evelyn (Mamen) Swenson. He later moved to Holland, MI where he was raised and educated. Irving was united in marriage to Margaret Wall, July 11, 1942. He served with the U. S. Army Air Corps during WW II and with the U. S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Following his discharge, he was an air traffic controller in Detroit, MI and later was employed as a private corporate pilot for a number of companies including Whirlpool, Schultz & Lindsay Construction and ConAgra. Irving had the distinction of being the first pilot to land a Lear Jet at Hecter International Airport in Fargo. Following his retirement, he built a home on Rose Lake near Vergas, MN. Margaret died in 1993. Irving was united in marriage to Darlene Andresen, March 26, 1994 in Detroit Lakes. They lived near Rose Lake, in Naples, FL and in Perham, MN, prior to moving to Detroit Lakes.
Irving was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Jess-Omundson Post 1676, Veterans Of Foreign Wars in Detroit Lakes. He loved to fly and also enjoyed golf, and living on the lake.
Survivors include his wife, Darlene of Detroit Lakes, 4 daughters: Janet (John) Franks of Houston, TX, Barbara (Gary) Ware of Detroit Lakes, Sandra (David) Karle of Crosby, MN and Judy (George) Belka of Dilworth, MN; 14 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, a sister-in-law: Helen Swenson of Detroit, MI, a brother-in-law: Cecil Bloedorn of West Point, Neb., several nieces and nephews. In addition to his first wife, Irving was preceded in death by a brother, Willard and a sister, Adele Woods
