Kathryn (Kathy) Lynn Swenson passed away peacefully on March 28, 2024, at the Fair Meadow Nursing home in Fertile, MN. She was born on December 9, 1958, at St Francis Hospital of Crookston, MN to Roy and Mertle Scully of Gentilly, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Gentilly. She attended elementary school in Gentilly and then later her high school years were spent at Central High School in Crookston, MN. 
In 1978, she met Keith Swenson and they were married in July of that same year. They moved to Fertile and were blessed with 4 children, Les, Kiley, Katie and Danny. Keith and Kathy raised their young family on the Swenson farm outside of Fertile. Along with working on the farm, Kathy had a passion for helping people. She spent 20 plus years volunteering at the County EMS, not only as a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician, but also as an instructor and tester for the state. She worked at Mac’s Cafe in Fertile as a cook and waitress, with close personal family friends Carol and Dale, also of Fertile. In 1987 they moved their family to town. In 1989 after the cows were sold, Kathy bought the Fertile Bakery and ran it with her family for several years. She then went to work at Tri Country Correction as a Correction Officer, retiring in 2015.
Many summers were spent at the lake with her family and close family friends Ron and Dawn Jackson and Carol and Dale Mackowick. She spent the last seven years with her beloved soulmate, Kayo Thompson, in Cape Coral, FL. She loved the weather and spending time on the beaches in Florida. She loved when her kids and grandkids would visit and insisted on spoiling them while they were there. Kayo and Kathy spent much of their time at the Twins Training Camp Ballpark in Fort Myers. They enjoyed visiting with players and fans during spring training. Kathy enjoyed various sports. Most loved were wrestling and football as she spent many weekends traveling to watch the kids and grandkids.
Kathy’s health started to deteriorate in the Fall of 2023. Her kids traveled to Florida to be by her side. As soon as she was strong enough, Les traveled to Florida to bring her home to Fertile so she could be closer to family.
Kathy always said that you never meet a stranger. She believed some people are brought into your life for a reason. This was very evident in her huge extended family not only in Fertile but in Cape Coral.
Kathy is survived by her significant other, Kayo Thompson of Cape Coral, FL; her four children, Les Swenson of Wahpeton, ND, Kiley Desrosier (Trevor) of Fertile, MN, Katie Sip (CJ) of Fertile, MN, and Danny Swenson (Sarah) of Barnesville, MN; 8 grandchildren, Quinten (Amanda), McKenna (Luke), Bristen, Kasen, Langdon, Cooper, Brexley and Lazarus; 2 great-grandchildren, Evelyn and Emersyn Desrosier; siblings, Dan (Karen) Duquette of Crookston, MN, Karen (David) Hagen of Kannapolis, NC, and Korene (Steve) Maynard of Statesville, NC; and sister-in-law, Roxanne Scully of North Carolina. She also had a huge extended family in Fertile and Cape Coral, FL.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Mertle Scully; father and mother-in-law, August and Clarine Swenson; and 2 brothers, Dale and Duane Scully.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Youth Football or Youth Wrestling programs of Fertile-Beltrami School, or Essentia Hospice of Fosston, MN.
Memorial Service: 11:00 AM, Friday, April 26, 2024, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN.
Visitation: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN, with a prayer service to follow.
Inurnment: St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, Gentilly, MN. (At a later date)
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.eriksonvikfh.com
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home
Fertile, Minnesota
