Barbara (Swenson) Lundquist

Barbara Lundquist, of Dawson, died December 12, 2015 at Johnson Memorial Home in Dawson, MN at the age of 94.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 1:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Dawson, MN.  Rev. Herb Rotunda will officiate and interment will be at Dawson Cemetery.  

Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the church.    

Barbara Jeanne (Swenson) Lundquist was born on January 19, 1921, in Nome, ND, the oldest of three daughters born to Sam P. and Bertha (Hestad) Swenson.  Growing up in Dawson, MN, she was baptized and confirmed in the First Presbyterian Church.  She graduated from Dawson High School in 1939.  Barbara then studied Home Economics at the University of Minnesota until her marriage to John F. Lundquist in September 1941 at the First Presbyterian Church.   

Barbara and John moved to Newton, Iowa, where John was employed as a commercial artist.  Within a few months of this move, the United States entered WWII and John enlisted in the Army Air Corps.  He was eventually sent to an air base in England.  Barb and their daughter, Janet, returned to Dawson to the home of her mother, Bertha Swenson, where she served as a Girl Scout leader.  

When the war ended, the family moved to Minneapolis where John pursued an engineering degree and the couple welcomed their son, John Willliam, “Bill”, into the family.  Barbara and her family moved to Los Angeles for two years where John was employed by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation.  She missed Minnesota terribly and the family returned in 1954.  John went to work at UNIVAC, where he worked for several years.  

While living in Richfield, two more sons were born; Thomas and Michael.  The family eventually moved to Burnsville, and when her family was mostly grown, Barbara became a Real Estate Agent in the Twin Cities.  After she and John had both retired, they returned to their hometown, Dawson, where they especially enjoyed the company of old friends.  They worked side-by-side to establish their new home until John’s death caused their parting.  Barb loved her home by the river and especially enjoyed being surrounded by her books, her beautiful Tokheim Stoneware, John’s woodworking, and her family photographs.  From her favorite spot at the kitchen table, she enjoyed her morning toast and coffee while reading the newspaper and conducting correspondence with family and friends.   Along with her deeply valued lifelong friendships, she made new friends, young and old.

In later years, Barb shared her home with her son, Bill, whose presence made it possible for her to enjoy life in her home until her health required nursing home care.  She entered the Johnson Memorial Care Center in March of 2015, where she resided until her death.  

She is survived by her sons: Bill, Thomas W. (Tamalyn S.), and Michael E. (Lisa); a daughter, Janet Hall; grandchildren: Emily J. (Aaron) Barnes, Katherine A. (David) Leuer, Timothy M. (Sarah) Lundquist, John E. (Kari) Lundquist, Josh and Jennica Sims, Lisa (Dan) Swenson, Ann Mattson, and Thomas (Laurie) Hall; great-grandchildren: Lucia and Oliver Barnes, Sophie and Theodore Leuer, Henry and Olivia Lundquist, Benjamin and Michael Swenson, Kyle and Carol Hall, and Calvin Mattson; her two sisters, Virginia Sperry and Effie (John) Deno; and her dearest friend, Elise Johnson-Hoffman.  

Preceding her in death were her parents and her dear husband, John.  


Memorials preferred to: VFW Flag Fund, JMHS Foundation, or First Presbyterian Church of Dawson

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