Newfolden - Bernice Swenson, 85, formerly of Newfolden, died Thursday, July 22, 1999 at Glen Valley Care Center in Glenwood Springs, CO.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 27 at 10 a.m. at the Evangelical Church in Newfolden with Reverend Gary Barrett officiating. Lenore Johnsen was the organist, and vocal music was provided by Lowell and Lona Trochmann. Casketbearers were Robert Dahl, Philip Dyrud, Floyd Nelson, Steve Simmons, Harvey Skyberg, Robert Swenson, Leslie Folden and Eugene Folden. Burial was in Folden Cemetery in New Folden township of Marshall county. The Green Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Bernice Gerty Land was born on June 14, 1914 in Demain, Saskatchewan, Canada to Bernhard I. and Carda (Hevle) Land. Her father was a minister for the Lutheran Free Church, and the family lived in several communities where he ministered in Canada and later Plentywood, MT, Maple Bay and Oklee.
On May 19, 1937 Bernice was united in marriage to John G. Swenson at Benson. The couple lived at Northwood, ND and Newfolden where they farmed. In 1974 Bernice moved to her own home in Thief River Falls, and John resided at Kee's Rest Home until he died on August 8. 1979. In 1982 Bernice moved to Cody, WY, and in 1988 she moved to Colorado where she lived near her daughter Delores. Recently, she has lived in health care centers.
Bernice is survived by three sons, Donald (Loretta) Swenson of Porterville, CA, Jerome (Kathleen) Swenson of Roseau and Jon (Colleen) Swenson of Salol; one daughter, Delores (Roger) Sellen of Eagle, CO; one brother, Orril Land of Duluth; one sister-in-law; 12 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one sister, Tolvine Noss; four half sisters, Gyda Grotte, Frieda Swan, Naomi Bry and Deborah Maurseth; three brothers, Clair, Gilmore and Ferdinand Land; and four half brothers, Spencer, Enoch, Rueben and Gotfred Land.
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