Shirley Swenson

Shirley Swenson, age 88, of Viroqua, passed away Monday, May 9, 2022, at Vernon Memorial Hospital. A Celebration of Shirley’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, 2022, at Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service. A reception will follow the service. Shirley was born on March 28, 1934, to Howard and Mathe (Williams) Reed. She graduated from Viroqua High School with the class of 1953. Shirley and Victor Swenson were married on March 6, 1954. She farmed with her husband in multiple locations before settling on Belgium Ridge. She also worked as a nursing assistant at Vernon Manor and home care aide with Bethel Home & Services. She loved this work and made many friends with her coworkers and clients. Ask any family member and they will tell you that she made the best apple pies and cookies. She knew everyone’s favorite cookie and was sure to make them for special occasions. She was also a great artist, painting fabric blocks that became baby blankets and dish towels to give as gifts for many, many relatives and friends. These were treasured items to receive with many sets of dish towels getting stored away because they were too pretty to use. Shirley and Victor were able to travel together for many years. They enjoyed the winters they spent in Harlingen, TX and kept in contact with friends they made there. One of the highlights of travel for Shirley and Victor was their trip to Norway. As kids, we sure remember the road trip vacations with 6 kids, an aunt, and parents in one car pulling a camper! Survivors include her six children, Barbara (Dean) Tatzel of Rochester, MN, Douglas (Karen) Swenson of Viroqua, Phillip (Linda Hogate) Swenson of Fort Collins, CO, Dennis (Alaynna) Swenson of Bellvue, CO, Carol (Mark) Everson of Cool, CA, and Patricia (John) Heydon of Owatonna, MN; 10 grandchildren, Matthew Swenson, Heather (Todd Sullivan) Swenson, Sarah Jones, Mallory (fiancé Kevin Betke) Swenson, Bjorn Swenson, Gunnar Swenson, Robert (Christina) Everson, Andrea Everson, Ryan Heydon, and Ellen Heydon; five great-grandchildren, Max Sullivan, Ace Sullivan, Sydney (Dustin Bowholtz) Garavalia, Emma (fiancé Jared Knutson) Jones, and Greyson Everson; two great-great-grandchildren, Oliver and Everett Bowholtz; her brother, Paul Reed; her sister, Linda Kesler; her sister-in-law, Sandy Reed; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Victor; her grandson-in-law, Jesse Jones; her brothers, Howard (Peg) Reed Jr., Clayton (Alice) Reed, and Michael Reed; sister-in-law, Helen Reed; brother-in-law, Le Roy Kesler; and Victor’s siblings and their spouses. We will miss this very special woman who gave the best “Grandma hugs”. Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home & Crematory is serving Shirley's family. 123 W. Decker St. Viroqua, WI 54665 608-637-2100