Patricia Swanson died on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at her home in rural Thief River Falls, MN at the age of 74 years, 4 months and 23 days. May her memory be blessed. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 12, 2012 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Mark Helgeland and Rev. Jim Swanson officiating. Burial will follow at St. Pauli Cemetery, Rural Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Patricia Rae Torkelson Swanson was born on October 14, 1937 in Thief River Falls to Anton and Ellen (Johnson) Torkelson. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Pauli Lutheran Church in Rural St. Hiliare, MN. Patricia attended public school at Knox Elementary in Thief River Falls and graduated in 1955 from Lincoln High School. Following high school Patricia went on to work for four different superintendents as the secretary for the superitendents office at Lincoln High School. On August 25, 1956, Patricia was united in marriage to Oliver "Skip" Swanson at Calvary Lutheran Church in St. Hilaire, MN. The couple made their home in the Thief River Falls area their entire lives, where they raised their children, Brad and Kevin. Patricia was also employed by Union State Bank, the Pennington County Motor Vehicle License Office, the Treasurer's Office, and was the Executive Secretary for the Special Ed Co-op (RIC). Patricia and Skip were partners in their business, Swanson Construction, and from 1984 - 2001 Patricia owned and operated Swanson Travel. Patricia over the years enjoyed a number of activities, including gardening, traveling, and bird watching. She was very passionate about dogs and horses - especially Morgan Horses, which she raised. She was a volunteer at the Pennington County Humane Society, and was active in starting the Kevin Swanson Memorial Garden. Patricia served as the Vice President of the Pennington County Historical Society, was a member of the Hazelnut Homemakers Club, a past leader of the Happy Acres 4-H, and a member of the Pennington County Fair Board. Her love of flowers encouraged her to become a member of the Garden Club. She was an active member of St. Pauli Lutheran Church and WELCA. She will be dearly missed by her husband, Skip and her son, Brad, as well as the rest of her family and friends. She is preceded in death by her son, Kevin; her parents; and twin sisters in infancy. Memorials preferred to the Pennington County Humane Society or the American Cancer Society. ORGANIST: Faye Auchenpaugh SPECIAL MUSIC DURING THE SERVICE: Wade Benson, and Joel Kezar SPECIAL MUSIC PRECEDING THE SERVICE: Rev. Terri Cuppett, Greg Dally, and Joel and Laura Rude CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: "How Great Thou Art" & "He Leadeth Me" CASKETBEARERS: Charissa Larson, Jerod Haugen, Alicia Smerkar, Darren Torkelson, Trevor Swanson, Corey Bugge, Brett Torkelson, Jason Haugen HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: All of Patricia's Lincoln High School Classmates - Class of 1955