Hazel Linea (Mattson) Swensrud
Hazel Linea (Mattson) Swensrud
Hazel Swensrud was born February 21, 1919 in Duluth, MN to Edwin and Anna (Erickson) Mattson. She grew up in the Lunds Valley area and graduated as Valedictorian of her class from Powers Lake HS in ND in 1937. She attended Minot State University and started her teaching career the following year. She taught at two different county schools in ND before her marriage to Lloyd Swensrud on January 17, 1942. After marriage she became a full-time ranch wife and worked side by side with her husband taking care of the cattle and horses and putting up hay. She loved the outdoors, and all animals, but had a special love for horses.
She and Lloyd bought a ranch in the Palermo, ND area and lived there, raising their two daughters, Claranne & Louise. In 1964 they retired from ranching and moved to Montana to pursue their mutual love of running thoroughbred race horses. In 1965 Hazel returned to her teaching profession and taught in rural schools in the Broadus, Montana area for 10 years. Lloyd passed away December 4, 1966.
At age 60 she decided to “retire” again from teaching and moved to Pennsylvania and went back to work on the horse race track as a groom. Eventually she moved to Florida and worked on a thoroughbred horse farm taking care of horses. She moved to Homedale in 2001 to be nearer her daughter. She continued to live in her own home independently, with her dog Willie, until her death. She loved her community, her friends, her home, her flowers and her church. She was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Homedale. Hazel continued to be very active in a writing group, coffee group, Bible study and church activities. She loved the outdoors and grew large, beautiful roses and had a front yard full of flowers. She continued to bowl until she was 90 years old. But, most of all she loved her Jack Russell dog, Willie. He was her fateful companion until the very end.
Hazel is survived by daughters Louise (Rich) McCrea of Boise; and Claranne (Charles) Baddeley of Palermo, ND. Five grandchildren and four great grandchildren; cousin Earl Erickson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Hazel is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, parents Edwin and Anna, sisters Mildred Swensrud and Violet Hoseth and brother, Edwin Mattson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 1, 2011 at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church at 621 W. Idaho, Homedale, Id. Everyone is invited to join in a luncheon fellowship following the service in the Fellowship Hall. Inurnment of ashes will be in the Swensrud burial site at the Faith Lutheran Church Cemetery in Palermo, ND. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel.
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