In the early hours of April 26, 2022 our Dad, Grandfather, Great Grandfather went peacefully back into the arms of his beloved wife Dorothy and the Grace of God. Dad was born on November 1, 1926 to Enoch (Nick) and Marjorie Swenson (Seal), a younger brother to older Sister Freda. Their family was complete. Dad was born on the farm 10 miles south of Moose Jaw and moved to the present farm in 1935 1/2 mile south of Baildon, SK where his Father was the Pool Elevator Agent. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Dorothy (Dot); Sister Freda (Lloyd) Lind and Dorothy's family Ethel Tait, Alex (Violet, Helen) Tait, Alice (Buckey) Rhodes, Bert Tait, John (Pauline) Tait, Idabelle (Ross) Embury and Charles Tait and Sons-In-Law George Farrow and Dave Pierce. Dad is survived by Son Richard (Joanne) Swenson and his children Andrew (Nikki) Swenson and their family Owen and Harper; Eric (Chelsea) Swenson and their family Conner, Sullivan and Sloan. Daughter JoAnn Farrow and her children Kirsten (Jeremy) August and their children Eli and Sydney and J. Kenton (Angelica) Farrow and their children Addison and Callen. He is also survived by Sisters-In-Law Luise Tait and Marlene Tait. Many of Dad's extended family from the Seals, the Swensons and the Taits are spread across North America. He remained close friends with all.
Dad was educated at Baildon school until the end of Grade 10 and then attended Central Collegiate in Moose Jaw for Grades 11 & 12 - graduating in 1944. Like many of his peers growing up in the 1930's, the depression instilled strong qualities in our Dad. Families worked together, you made due with what you had and neighbours helped neighbours. Dollars were precious. Activities like school picnics, church and Sunday school and community sports like baseball and hockey were treasured. Dad's dream of post-secondary education had to be put on hold because of a farm accident to Grandpa Nick in 1945. Dad purchased his first half section with the help from his father in 1945 and immersed himself in agriculture. Don married Dorothy Tait the local school teacher in 1949. They were blessed with two children - Richard 1952 and JoAnn 1954. Dad's farming career from the very beginning was a life-long dream of leaving the land better than he found it. Dad was elected by his peers to go on the march to Ottawa in 1959 so the federal government would treat agriculture in a more fair way and help farmers achieve better returns on their investment. His involvement quickly led to things like using legumes, shelter belts, zero till and chem-fallow to control soil erosion. Don was a founder of the Alfalfa Seed Industry in the late 1960's, became the founding President of the Sask Leafcutter Bee Association and he became a Registered Seed Grower in 1975. In 1983, he became President of the Canadian Alfalfa Seed Council. In 1985, he was presented with an honorary Life Membership Award by the Sask Institute of Agrologists. Don's name was placed on the Wall of Honour in the College of Agriculture at the U of S. In 1981, he was named Farmer of the Year by the City of Moose Jaw for his leadership and contribution in the development of the Moose Jaw Baildon Effluent Irrigation Project. He was President of the PC Party of Sask from 1971 to 1973. In 1975 he ran as a candidate in the Thunder Creek constituency. Don was appointed by the federal government first to the advisory board of the Farm Credit Corporation in 1988 and then as a Director where he served until 1994.
Dad loved baseball and everything around the sport. He played hard ball until his late 40s and slow pitch until 85. He coached, umpired and prepared the various ball diamonds wherever he lived and encouraged his children and grandchildren to love the sport. Don and Dorothy moved to Moose Jaw in 2000 and continued to lead a very active social life at places like the Cosmos and activities at Minto United Church. They spent many much-deserved winters in Arizona. He enjoyed golfing, singing karaoke, reciting and writing poetry and many hours at the slow pitch diamond. Dad was a full-time farmer to his very last days. He wanted to know what was happening on the farm daily and what crops were to be harvested because he wanted to be on the combine even if you had to push him up the ladder. We all miss him dearly. Celebration of Life for both Mom and Dad will be held on Friday, June 17th at Minto United Church, Moose Jaw at 1:30 PM , reception and fellowship to follow. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.jonesparkview.com (Obituaries). Blake Seebach-Funeral Director.
