Obituary

Marian Ovedia Johnson Swiggum was born July 14, 1918, in Frost, Minnesota, to Andrew and Christina (Erdahl) Halvorson. She was baptized and confirmed at Frost Lutheran Church and attended Frost Schools. She married Oliver G. Johnson on October 6, 1940, at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashau, Iowa. They lived in Frost until 1964 when they moved to Northfield. In 1969 Marian began working at the Northfield Retirement Center (NRC) distributing medication. She had always been a care giver and had studied nursing, so this was a natural fit. She retired from NRC in 1988. She married Mike Swiggum on July 9, 1988, in Luck, Wisconsin. They made their home in the Eagan/Burnsville area until moving back to Northfield in June of last year.

Until moving to Northfield, Marian was a member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, gardening, canning and was a voracious reader. She was ahead of her time when it came to health, nutrition and political and social issues. She was always interested in the well-being and development. She was caring, loving, had a strong Christian faith and dearly loved her family.

Survivors include her husband of 19 years, Mike; 7 children and their spouses: Michael and Susan Johnson of Great Falls, Virginia, Tony and Betty Johnson of Alexandria, Minnesota, Mary and Ken Overfield of Wyoming, Minnesota, Peter and Bonnie Johnson of Bemidji, Tom and Becky Johnson of Walker, Chris Valek of Northfield, Jon and Sophia Johnson of Eagan; 4 children through marriage and their spouses: Philip and Paula Swiggum of Eagan, Mark and Leslie Swiggum of Eden Prairie, Beth and Steve Siebenaller of Eagan, Faye and Norm Radtke of Chanhassen; 24 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren; her sister, Clarice Henderson of Northfield; nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Oliver in 1984; her granddaughter through marriage, Amy Radtke; and her half-sisters, Arvella and Florence.

Marian passed away Monday morning, July 23, 2007 at the Northfield Care Center at the age of 89.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 26, 2007, at the Northfield Retirement Center Chapel, followed by funeral services at 3:00 P.M. with Rev. Paul Harrington & Rev. Duane Paetznick officiating. Music will be provided by Amber, Mark and Rachel Swiggum and Lois Burgoyne. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, Northfield. Casket bearers will be David Overfield, Andy Valek, Ben Johnson, Mick Johnson, Mark Siebenaller, Brian Swiggum, Michael Swiggum, Bruce Johnson, Daniel Radtke and Thomas Radtke.

Memorials are preferred to the Northfield Retirement Center or Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.

Marian Johnson Swiggum, age 89 of Northfield, passed away Monday morning, July 23, 2007 at the Northfield Care Center.

Funeral services will be 3:00 P.M. Thursday, July 26, 2007, at the Northfield Retirement Center Chapel. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, Northfield. Visitation will begin at 2:00 PM on Thursday at the Retirement Center Chapel.

Survivors include her husband, Mike; 7 children and their spouses: Michael and Susan Johnson of Great Falls, Virginia, Tony and Betty Johnson of Alexandria, Mary and Ken Overfield of Wyoming, Minnesota, Peter and Bonnie Johnson of Bemidji, Tom and Becky Johnson of Walker, Chris Valek of Northfield, Jon and Sophia Johnson of Eagan; 4 step-children and their spouses: Philip and Paula Swiggum of Eagan, Mark and Leslie Swiggum of Eden Prairie, Beth and Steve Siebenaller of Eagan, Faye and Norm Radtke of Chanhassen; 24 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Clarice Henderson of Northfield.

Memorials are preferred to the Northfield Retirement Center or Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.

John Raymond Kisor was born July 27, 1918, in Morristown, Minnesota, to John and Myrtle (Wilson) Kisor. He was raised on the family farm in Ethel, Missouri. He attended country school and after his education worked on the family farm. In 1938 he moved to Minnesota and worked as a farm hand. He married Florence Niemann in November of 1939, in Faribault. After marriage they lived in Warsaw, Minnesota, and John worked as a mechanic and also helped is father-in-law farm. He joined the US Navy on June 15, 1944 and was discharged on January 26, 1946. Following his discharge he returned to Warsaw. During the next few years he worked as a car salesman, a truck driver, and in maintenance at the hospital in Faribault. In 1957 Florence and John divorced and he moved to Faribault and continued working at the hospital. He worked at the Devine Mercy Hospital in New Prague before going to work at the hospital in Farmington. While working in Farmington he met Barbara Paiement Bradley. They married on February 15, 1971 in South Dakota. After marriage they lived in Farmington until moving to Castle Rock where they eventually bought a farm.

Cary (Clara) Harmon was born July 9, 1917 in Clan William Manitoba, Canada to Sevrin and Gunda (Nelson) Vangstad. She graduated from Osakis High School as their valedictorian and continued her education becoming an LPN. Cary furthered her training in the United States Navy as an oral surgery nurse taking care of injured soldiers from 1943 to 1945.

She married Harry Weston Harmon on March 23, 1946 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul. In 1949 they moved to Northfield and established Harmon’s Photography. Together Wes and Cary owned and operated Harmon’s Photography until 1985 when they sold it to their son Mark. Cary was very involved with her family, children and grandchildren. A very important part of her life was volunteering.

Leonard Anthony Hubers was born June 22, 1942, in Faribault to Anthony and Ruth (Reichert) Hubers. He was baptized at Immaculate Conception Church in Faribault. Leonard graduated from Northfield High School and after his education he married Karen Valek on June 28, 1961, at St. Dominic’s. After marriage they began farming on her parents farm.

Leonard was a member of the Church of St. Dominic. He had retired from farming this last year and still enjoyed helping out at his own pace. Leonard enjoyed spending time at his lake home in Lake City, spending time with his grandchildren and spoiling them. He was a car enthusiast and valued hard work. Leonard was very successful and very humble and he never took anything for granted. He was extremely proud of his family. Leonard was a wonderful loving and caring husband, father, and grandfather, and his family was the most important thing in his life.

Donna Freeman, age 74 of Dundas, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at her home.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, July 9, 2007, at the Church of the Holy Cross in Dundas. Interment will be in Groveland Cemetery, Dundas. Visitation will be 4-7PM Sunday, July 8, 2007, at the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home in Northfield. Visitation will continue at the church on Monday one hour prior to the funeral.

Memorial are preferred to Holy Cross Church in Dundas.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.

Walter Francis Graff was born March 3, 1921, in Northfield to Edward and Catherine (Mahowald) Graff. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Dominic Catholic Church and attended Rosary School. After his education he worked on the family farm and at age 17 attended welding school in Minneapolis. At age 18 he moved and began working as a welder in the shipyards at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. During that time he met Lois Hutchison. They married on August 5, 1944, at the Holy Name Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. In February 1944, Walt enlisted in the Army and Lois remained in Sheboygan. He served in France and following his discharge in May 1946, they moved to Northfield. In December of 1947 they purchased a farm 5 miles west of Northfield. In 1976, they sold their dairy cattle and in 1979 Walt began his career in sales. He worked several years for JD Ford and Larson Implement.

Agnes Cordelia Mulcahy was born November 5, 1917, in Sciota Township, Dakota County, Minnesota, to Albert and Christine (Amundson) Hughes. She was baptized December 25, 1917. She attended country school near Stanton and while she was growing up her parents owned and operated a grocery store in Stanton. She graduated from Randolph High School and after her education worked at the Olympia Café in Faribault. She married Roger K. Rodewald in 1936. After marriage they lived in several communities, including Northfield, where Aggie managed the Fair Price Café for her parents. Aggie and Roger divorced and Aggie moved to New Jersey. She worked as a checker at an Acme Store and also as a factory worker. She married William Mulcahy in 1951. After marriage they lived in Summit and later in New Providence, New Jersey. While living in New Providence, Aggie ran the cafeteria for McGregor Sportswear and also spent many hours volunteering for Meals-On-Wheels. William passed away in 1971 and Aggie returned to Northfield in 1981.

Aggie Mulcahy, age 89 of Northfield, passed away Wednesday evening, June 13, 2007, at the Northfield Hospital Long Term Care Center.

Services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 16, 2007, at Stanton United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Stanton Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7PM Friday, June 15, 2007, at the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home in Northfield. Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday one hour prior to the funeral.

Survivors include 2 sons and their wives: Robert and Barbara Rodewald of Hopkins, Larry and Linda Rodewald of Rosemount; 5 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Barbara Hughes Truax of Northfield.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.