Gen Svare, 95, of Ada, Minnesota, passed away in the early morning on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at the Benedictine Care Community in Ada, where she had been a resident for a year.
Genevieve Estelle Mobraten was born on January 22, 1929 at her home in rural Carlisle, Minnesota to Frances (Houg) and Julius P. Mobraten as the fourth of eight children. She grew up singing with her sisters, participating in rural farm life, and learning the traditions of her Norwegian heritage. After attending elementary school at the nearby one room schoolhouse, Gen and her sister boarded in a home in Fergus Falls to attend high school there. After her high school graduation in 1946, she attended Miss Woods Kindergarten-Primary Training School (a division of Macalester College) in Minneapolis and received her elementary teacher accreditation with the Class of 1949. She began as a teacher in Glenwood, Minnesota and then continued her teaching career in Ada after her marriage.
Gen married Vincent Gordon Svare (Erhard, MN) on July 27, 1952 at Hedemarken Lutheran Church in Carlisle. They lived in Ada for their fifty-eight years of marriage, with Gen teaching kindergarten, second grade, and finally ending her Ada Elementary career as a Chapter I tutor. She retired in 1995 after 36 years of teaching and continued to substitute teach at all grade levels well into her 80s. In her resignation letter, she said, “Being an educator will continue to be vital to me as I remain active in supporting a community that promotes education in ways that put the needs of children first.”
Gen stayed active throughout her life in: volunteer work; teaching VBS and Sunday School; singing in the choir and being involved in Bible Study, Circle and committees at her church (Grace Lutheran); the 20th Century Study Club; Girl Scouts; a lead board member for the Missoula Children’s Theatre program; attending sports events and music performances (especially those of family); playing cards and games, most notably Scrabble; coffee parties and wine and cheese get togethers with friends; and of course baking, particularly her crescent and orange rolls, which were everyone’s favorite. She also very much enjoyed traveling with Vince on vacations to various places, most often to where her kids lived.
Gen is survived by her four children, Jane Anderson (Douglas), Reed Svare (Kathy), Karin Noble (Eric), and Kristin Auch (Kory); grandkids, Lauren Hoerl (Alex), Maari Anderson (Jesús), Nash Anderson, Doug Anderson Jr., Kristina Anderson, Luke Svare (Jaclyn), Tony Svare (Nicole), Berit Johnson (Bennett), Grace McGrady (Ryan), Sullivan Noble, Madison Auch (Michael), Carter Auch, and Dixon Auch; great grandchildren, Adelina Guerrero, Eli Hoerl, Bennie Hoerl, James Hoerl, Estella Anderson, McKenzie Anderson, McKayla Anderson, Eva Svare, Anha Svare, Hailey Svare, Sophia Svare, and Addison Svare; one sister, Marie Torgerson (Paul); sister-in-law, Nancy Reagan (David Mobraten); and many cousins, nieces and nephews and their families.
Gen was preceded in death by her husband, Vince; her parents; sisters, Anna, Florence, and Phyllis; and brothers, Bud, Art, and Dave.
Memorials may be made in Gen’s name to Grace Lutheran Church of Ada with funds to be used towards music, worship, and education.
May God bless the memory and legacy of Genevieve Svare.
Funeral Service: 10:30 AM, Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at Grace Lutheran Church, Ada, MN.
Visitation: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at Grace Lutheran Church, Ada, MN, with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 PM.
Interment: Ada Municipal Cemetery, Ada, MN.
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.fredriksonfh.com
Arrangements with Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Homes Ada & Halstad, Minnesota
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