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Swenson, Dorothy "Dot"

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Swenson, Photo cropped

Our Mom, Dorothy (Dot) Swenson went peacefully into the arms of God on the morning of April 4th, 2022. Mom was the last member of her family of 4 boys and 4 girls born to James & Amelia Tait of Dilke, SK. 

She was predeceased by her parents, siblings Ethel Tait, Alex (Violet, Helen) Tait, Alice (Buckey) Rhodes, Bert Tait, John (Pauline) Tait, Idabelle (Ross) Embury and Charles Tait, Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law Lloyd and Frieda Lind and Son-in-laws George Farrow and Dave Pierce.

Mom is survived by her loving husband of 72 years Donald; 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 Jo Ann Farrow and her children Kirsten (Jeremy) August and their children Eli and Sydney and J. Kenton (Angelica) Farrow and their children Addison and Callen. She is also survived by Sisters-In-Law Luise Tait and Marlene Tait. 

Mom had a very large family of nieces and nephews and their offspring who she loved dearly and tried to keep track of on an ongoing basis. Mom's mailing and email lists were of the utmost importance right to the day she passed. Mom got her first computer at age 85 and made very good use of it. She wanted an update of our daily lives on her screen every morning or else we heard about it. She wanted to know what was happening on the farm, were the gophers out and what was Richard and Joanne's dog Max doing.

Mom was educated in Dilke and told many stories of growing up there, helping out in the family businesses and playing at Grandview Beach. Upon graduation, it was off to Regina for Teacher's College. She began her career in Goodeve (where she ate her first cabbage roll and perogies),  followed by Macoun, Grand Coulee and 2 stints at Baildon, SK. She made life-long friends at all of her stops. At Baildon, Mom boarded at the home of Nick and Majorie Swenson. A young ball -playing farmer named Donald also lived there and the rest is history.

Mom and Dad were married on July 23, 1949 and would have celebrated 73 years of adventure this July. Son Richard came along in April of 1952 and daughter Jo Ann in November 1954. Over the next 50 years, Mom was at Dad's side as together they converted our "pile of sand" farm from a wasteland to a productive green gem. It was Mom who read an article about leaf cuter bees and growing alfalfa seed in the fall of '69 that propelled "Wheaton Bee Farms Ltd" to a long-time venture in the alfalfa seed business which was topped off with effluent irrigation in 1982. Mom's guest books are full of names of the folks who came to see these enterprises many of whom became lifelong friends.

Along with the hard work, there was always time to play ball. Dad played until he was 85 years old and Mom was his biggest cheerleader. Their favourite times in life were sitting together at a ball diamond. Community events at Baildon that needed a helping hand, church activities, 4 Corners Friendship Club and community curling were also some of the events they enjoyed together in life. Many family gatherings at the farm yard that Mom created with trees, flowers and beautiful lawns for all to enjoy followed through the years. Mom loved to entertain and hear about people's lives. She wanted to know who you were and who you belonged to.

Mom's other passion was politics. For over 50 years, she was a warrior for the PC Party at all levels. She and Dad are honoured life members of the Party.  Being in the committee rooms at election time or going to a convention were like hooking Mom up to an oxygen tank. She was never afraid to voice her opinion on any subject and she loved John Diefenbaker.

Mom & Dad started a new adventure in life with the purchase of a park model trailer with attached Arizona room in Viewpoint RV Park in Mesa, AZ in 1991. For the next 24 years, they enjoyed all or parts of the winter making new friends, enjoying another ball diamond, playing cards and reconnecting with family members from across Canada and the States who also wintered there.

The other foundation in Mom's life besides her family was her devotion to church life both at Baildon and for 53 years at Minto United Church in Moose Jaw. She was a Sunday school teacher, a faithful UCW member and a founding board member of the Minto Family Life Centre. She never turned down the opportunity to volunteer whenever needed. When Mom's celebration of life takes place, it will be at Minto. Mom loved her Minto family and they loved her.

A Celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to Minto United Church 1036 7 Ave NW, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 4C4.

In living memory of Dot, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.jonesparkview.com (Obituaries). Blake Seebach- Funeral Director

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