Rolland Swenson

Rolland Wallace Swenson, age 99, passed away at his Colony Court home in Waseca in the early morning of Monday, October 12, 2026.

 

Rolland was born in Waseca County on March 15, 1927, to parents Carl and Hilda (Larson) Swenson.  A first-generation Swedish immigrant, his family spoke Swedish in their home which caused Rolland difficulty as he began in an English-speaking country school.  He graduated from New Richland High School.  He later went on to serve his country in the United States Army from 1950 until 1952.  During his time in the service, he was married to Carol Joanne Peterson at Vista Evangelical Covenant Church.  Rolland owned and operated his own building construction business for over fifty years.  His family recalls him driving throughout the area recounting stories and memories of the over eighty different residential properties and two churches that he built.  He purchased his Otisco farm, and it was said that he “built houses so he could farm”.  He loved the Lord and his family and was a long-time member of Vista Evangelical Covenant Church.

 

Rolland is survived by his devoted wife of seventy five years, Carol of Waseca; four children, Douglas (Evie) Swenson of Woodbury, Jeanne (Evan) Shadduck of Prior Lake, Keith (Amy) Swenson of Savage, and Karl (Debbie) Swenson of Waseca; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by both of his parents; three sisters in infancy; two sisters as adults, Esther Dietrich and Frances Swenson; and six brothers, Arthur, Raymond, Russell, Kenneth, Emmeth, and Marvin Swenson.

 

A visitation for Rolland will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Third Street Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service in Waseca, and will continue for one hour before the service at the church on Friday.  In lieu of floral gifts, memorials in honor of Rolland may be directed to the Vista Evangelical Covenant Church or to Gideons International.

 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Vista Evangelical Covenant Church in rural New Richland.  Following interment, a luncheon will be hosted at the church.