On Wednesday, October 28, 2020, Jerald Truman Swenson, passed away peacefully at Shorewood Assisted Living Facility in Rochester, Minn. Jerald resided at Shorewood the last two years, moving from Santa Monica, Calif., to be near family. Jerald was born February 19, 1933, in Spring Grove, Minn., to John and Thelma (Halvorson) Swenson. They lived in the Spring Grove area until 1936, then moved to Ridgeway, Iowa, and later moving to Mabel in 1945, where they purchased a farm that has passed through four Swenson generations.
Jerald graduated from Mabel High School in 1951. He obtained a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering degree in 1956 from The University of Minnesota, specializing in missile design, flight mechanics and performance analysis. He was awarded an ROTC scholarship while at the University of Minnesota and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army upon completing his degree. He lived in Santa Monica, Calif., and worked the majority of his career at Hughes Aircraft Company as the principal engineer for development of splash patterns for entire AMRAAM flight test program, including Raytheon missile launches. He also worked at Rockwell, TRW, Douglas Aircraft Company. He retired in 1992. Jerald was active in Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, Calif., and the Sons of Norway. He had a quick wit and a great sense of humor. His family loved having him close the last two years and took him on many outings. He loved family gatherings, music, rommegrot and french vanilla cappuccino.
Jerald is survived by siblings Stanley Swenson of Rochester, Marilyn (Denis) Lowry of Sarasota, Fla., and Orville (Sandra) Swenson of Cloquet; nieces Debra (Rick) Groth, Jana (Paul) Thompson, Sonja (Bart) Mackey and Terri Jents; nephews David (Julie) Swenson, Craig Swenson, Jonathan Swenson and Randy (Mary) Plank and many great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A private family funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020, at 11 a.m. at Mabel First Lutheran Church, officiated by Reverend Elliott Malm. The committal service will follow at Mabel Lutheran Cemetery. You are welcome to join in the committal service. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.
Richard Bracken says
We’re sad to just hear this. Jerry (Gerald) was my best man on June 25, 1965 when I married my wife.. We were good friends and neighbors when he lived in Santa Monica. Both working in aerospace at the time. 20+ of us engineers had a beach house in the Malibu area of Hwy 101. Party time. Even ‘tho we moved from CA in 1976 we stayed in contact and visited with him every time we went back to CA. Sandra and I are sad and he will be missed by us.