Lois J. Swenhaugen

Lois Julia Swenhaugen, age 77 of Tracy, formerly of Walnut Grove, passed away Monday, July 24, 2023 at Prairie View Senior Living Center in Tracy. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 28, 2023 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 p.m. Thursday, July 27 at Walnut Grove Funeral Home with a Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and prayer service at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church on Friday. Interment will be in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Walnut Grove. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. 

Lois Julia Swenhaugen was born November 19, 1945 to Joseph and Viola (Rasmussen) Kolar in Tracy, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Catholic Church in Walnut Grove. Lois graduated from Walnut Grove High School and continued her education at Mankato Commercial College. Lois worked and lived in Cedar Rapids, IA and then Bloomington, MN before starting a family and raising her children on her Kolar family farm outside of Walnut Grove. On February 7, 1987, Lois was united in marriage to Tom Swenhaugen in Marshall, and just celebrated their 36 years of marriage. Lois then started working at the Tracy Nursing Home as a CNA/TMA, which she did for over 20 years. She later worked for a short time at Christian Manor. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Walnut Grove where she taught catechism and served for funerals. She then became a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy after the closure of St. Paul’s. Lois also enjoyed gardening and canning on the farm and feeding and watching the birds when moved to town. She had a heart of gold and always thought of others before herself. Lois would never miss a special occasion when it came to her family, including making greeting cards and attending graduations, birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations. Lois loved & cherished her grandchildren and will be remembered as “Candy Grandma.” She always had a bag of chocolates and goodies with their name on it when they left.

Lois is survived by her husband Tom Swenhaugen; children: Darren (Kei) Klontz, Chanin (Kim) Klontz, Dana (Melissa) Klontz and Kimberly (Jason) Schmalz; 18 grandchildren: Joe, Katy, Wesley, Ella, Josiah, Jaxson, Zane, Zander, Bailey (Derek), Tristan, Calub, Kelly, Brooke (Tyler), Hunter (Adam), Keegan, Tanner, Savannah and Trey; sisters: Loretta Hubert and Leona Brygger; and sisters-in-law: Michelle Swenhaugen, Darcy Kashmarek, Lori (David) Freeburg, Lisa Bruns and Cindy Swenhaugen. She is preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law Cletus & Gelaine Swenhaugen and brothers-in-law Dennis Hubert and David Swenhaugen.