Reverend Swenson

Swenson, Paul N., The Rev.

Pastor and Chaplain



Beloved ?mighty oak? husband, father, Pastor, Chaplain, son, brother, friend. September9,1951?August25,2008. Courageous 8 year battle with prostate cancer. Paul was devoted to his family, his work as chaplain, and he so enjoyed his music and trucks. A graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, he began a career in business and personnel management. Later he studied at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN where he completed his M.Div. in 1985. His wonderful internship under the supervision of the Rev. Glenn Midthun was at Bethlehem Lutheran, St. Cloud, MN and he served as pastor at St. Stephen?s Lutheran Church, Marshall, MN, Trinity Lutheran, Montevideo, MN, and Bethesda Lutheran, Alexandria, MN. He returned to Luther Seminary and entered into the Pastoral Care and Social Change masters program and completed his year long chaplaincy training under his excellent mentor Father Ed Wittenburg at United Hospital, St. Paul, MN. After his training he was invited to stay and was also blessed with the opportunity to become Director of Chaplaincy. He later completed C.I.S.M. training and, because so invaluable, hoped Luther Seminary would one day introduce it into their pastoral care curriculum. In 1998 Paul became Director of Chaplaincy for the St. Croix Chaplaincy Association serving Lakeview Memorial Hospital, Stillwater, MN and area nursing homes. There his service was blessed ten fold as he worked along side the best of the best, the Lakeview Hospital, Hospice and Homecare staff. Special thanks to friend and chaplain the Rev. Robert Furness. Thank you Dr Charles Bransford, January Arkell, Bonnie, Robin and all the caring hospice staff. Thank you to Dr. Andrew Nottleson for persisting and catching Paul?s silent cancer. A dear Jewish friend said, ?What would the world do without people like Paul? He helped so many and we felt like part of his family.? He was a man of prayer who wasn?t afraid sometimes to color outside the lines. God blessed him and those who knew him were blessed. Paul is deeply missed and survived by his wife Valerie and sons Joshua and Andrew, his parents Neil and Marie Swenson, his sisters Ginny(Al)Cummings, Patty(Ted) Harrison, Liz(Don) Kraska, and many loving relatives and friends. A time for visitation will be held at Bradshaw Funeral Home, Stillwater on Wed. August 27 from 6-9PM with a SPECIAL SHARING TIME at 7:00. Funeral service will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Roseville, on Thurs. August 28 at 11:00AM. Memorials preferred to Lakeview Memorial Hospice Program.