Margaret Swenson

Margaret Swenson, age 94, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Prairie Lakes Health Care Systems Hospital in Watertown, SD.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Watertown Christian Church in Watertown, SD. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank, SD. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Pastor Gerald Volk will officiate, and interment will be at Bethany Baptist Cemetery in Strandburg, SD.

Margaret Louise (Nowick) Swenson was born on November 3, 1931, the fourth of five children born to Ole and Alma (Olson-Johnson) Nowick. She was born on her maternal grandmother’s farm about five miles southeast of Bemis, SD.

Margaret’s family moved into the town of Bemis when she was three years old. She fondly recalled her formative years at a small county school situated just southeast of Bemis. The Nowick family moved to South Shore, SD, when Margaret was in sixth grade. There, they lived in many homes, her favorite on the north shore of round lake allowing her to fish with her dad and brothers.

Margaret attended high school in South Shore but dropped out to work various jobs including waitressing in the café in South Shore, and working for various families taking care of children, cooking, and cleaning. It was at that café, that Margaret caught the eye of a Strandburg boy named, Melvin Swenson, who walked her home and asked her out. Their first date was to a basketball tournament held in downtown Watertown.

About a year later, on October 28, 1950, Margaret married Melvin at the Bethel Baptist Church parsonage in Strandburg, where they would reside for the next 59 years engaging in farming. Margaret learned to love the farm. She enjoyed checking cattle, gardening, canning produce, and raising their five children: Rick, Terry, Deb, Larry, and Tammy.

On December 5, 1954, Margaret accepted the Lord as her Savior and was baptized by immersion. Margaret and Melvin attended the Bethel Baptist Church in Strandburg until the early 1970’s when they became charter members of the South Lake Church of Christ in Watertown.

In the 1970’s, Margaret earned her GED and started building a career. She worked at Honeyville in Strandburg each fall extracting honey. In the mid 1970’s, she was the “spice lady” at Flanery Meat Processing. After selling Avon for a few years, Margaret realized she had the knack for sales. She sold advertising for the Valley Shopper and KSDR radio before the Coteau Shopper, where she remained until her retirement in 2002.

Margaret enjoyed crocheting, gardening, canning and taking care of her beautiful flowers in her yard. She was known for being meticulous with her home, yard, and gardens, and her cars were kept immaculate.

Margaret loved music and learned to play many instruments including the guitar at age 60 and the dulcimore.

Margaret was a sports fan. She watched Melvin play baseball in their early marriage and later watched her children and grandchildren in many sports. She was an avid Minnesota Twins fan. Margaret loved poetry and wrote many that portrayed her deep love and commitment to God and her family. She was a competitive Solitaire player and challenged her friends and family, often showing no mercy. Above all, Margaret’s faith in God carried her through the darkest days and the many health challenges she faced in her later years.

In 2020, Margaret moved from Watertown to Milbank to be closer to her family, allowing her to live independently longer. As her health declined, she moved into an independent living facility and then to assisted living residing at Peaceful Pines Assisted Living at the time of her passing.

Left to cherish Margaret’s memory are her children: Rick (Cindy) Swenson of Milbank, SD; Terry (Nancy) Swenson of Elkton, SD; Debby Stanton (Greg Arbo) of Sioux Falls, SD; and Tammy (Chuck) Wollschlager of Milbank, SD; 15 grandchildren: Shane (Denise) Swenson, Steve Swenson, Heidi (Fred) Harbinson, Paul (Kelly) Sayler, Eli (Sarah) Swenson, Camille (Kyle) Rische, Machele (Reggie) Green, Levi Stanton, Lindsey (Travis) Weich, Lance Swenson, Hope (Jared) Roiger, Kelsey (Josh) Van Hill, Jordan (Brittany) Wollschlager, Tory (Jordan) Wollschlager, and Caden (Jennifer) Wollschlager; four step-grandchildren: Christine Cruz, Joe (Mary) Cruz, Anna Nesheim, and Troy Arbo; 36 great-grandchildren: Kezlar, Kutler, Kinzley, Haley, Gage, Kennedi, Evelyn, Dylan, Malachi, Xander, Neveah, Tavian, Jakayla, Jevin, Jacobi, Mariah (Chase), Maddox, Mateya, Madison, Grady, Lily, Tate, Nora, Lila, Beau, Jacy, Lainey, Mara, Nellie, Raeleigh, Bryer, Claire, Brooks, Hudson, and Carver nine step-great-grandchildren: Freddie, Megan, Tabitha, Keygan, Kya, Isabella, Ashley, Riley, and Peytan; one great-great-grandchild, Leni; one step-great-great-grandchild, Roman; along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Melvin, in 2019; her parents; her son, Larry Swenson; and her siblings: Agnes Nowick, Alfred Nowick, Olive (Nowick) Erickson, and Harold Nowick.