Yvonne Swensen: 1948-2021
Yvonne Kathleen Swensen, 72, of Irene, S.D., died Monday, April 19, 2021 at her home.
A funeral service was held Friday, April 23 at Riverview Reformed Church in Yankton, S.D., with burial in the Turkey Valley Baptist Cemetery, rural Irene.
Yvonne was born July 16, 1948 in Scotland, S.D. to Ruben and Lorene (Gerjets) Eilmes. She attended Odessa 24 Country School and later graduated from Scotland High School in 1966. She was confirmed at Bethany Reformed Church of Scotland on April 16, 1961. She graduated from Southern State College, Springfield, in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in education. Later education followed as she received her master of arts degree from USD in 1988. Yvonne was a member of Turkey Valley Baptist Church, rural Irene, until it’s dissolution in 2009. She most recently was a member of Riverview Reformed Church of Yankton.
Yvonne married Darrell L. Swensen on June 24, 1972 at United Church of Christ in Scotland. Together they had three children, Mark, Kari and Marty. She taught kindergarten in Viborg, S.D. and later special education in Irene, from 1985 to 2007. She then continued with the Irene-Wakonda School as an aide until her retirement in 2014. Much of her extra time was spent helping out with all of her grandchildren, as well as attending most football, baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball and soccer games, whichever the season presented. She absolutely loved spending such precious time with all of her grandkids. Yvonne enjoyed much time spent with friends at gatherings of the Red Hat Valley Dolls Red Hats group. She was also involved with the local book club and loved reading every day. Much of her time was also spent helping on the farm, even if it was just a parts run.
Yvonne is survived by her three children: Mark (Kerri) Swensen, of Freeman, S.D., Kari (Glen) Neuharth, of Freeman and Marty (Jodi) Swensen of Irene; seven grandchildren: Micah, Jacob and Erica Swensen, Kylie, and Logan Neuharth, all of Freeman, and Rory and Rylen Swensen of Irene; two sisters: Karen Sorgdrager of Yankton and Sheila Wek of Freeman; an aunt, Fernetta Strand of Centerville, S.D.; brother-in-law, Milton Schnabel of Menno, S.D.; sister-in-law, Donna Mellem of Yankton; and numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Darrell; infant daughter, Nicole Annette; parents, Ruben and Lorene Eilmes; sister Joyce Schnabel; and brother and sister-in-laws Dale and Charlotte Swensen and Kenneth and Frances Mellem.
