Sigvald "Sig" Svendsen

Sigvald “Sig” Svendsen, age 96, of Lake Crystal, passed away on Sunday, November 19 at Pathstone Living in Mankato. 

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 22 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Butternut. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Cemetery.  Lake Crystal Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. 

Sigvald Rudolf Svendsen was born on July 18, 1921 to Hans and Lena (Stokstad) Svendsen at the home farm in Butternut Valley, rural Lake Crystal, MN.  He was baptized and later confirmed in the Lutheran faith as a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Butternut Valley in 1935.  Sig graduated from Lake Crystal High School in 1940.  Sig was united in marriage to Carolyn (Peggy) Culp on September 19, 1946. 

Sig was a lifelong farmer; a faithful steward of the land he farmed, as did his dad, Hans, before him. 

He was very involved in his community and church activities including: leading the Butternut Boosters 4-H club, hosting Farmfest ’76, serving on the board of directors at Pathstone Living (Mankato Lutheran Home), serving on the Butternut Valley Town Board for over 40 years, and sat on the board of directors for Green Lake Bible Camp. Sig and Peggy were recipients of the WCCO Radio Good Neighbor Award in 1981 as well as were the Grand Marshals of the Lake Crystal Rodeo Days Parade.  Sig’s support of his community and his church in Butternut was his passion.  He was generous with his time and his resources. 

Sig never really retired from farming. He was an avid “windshield farmer” and enjoyed taking rides throughout the countryside.  For many years, Sig hosted Christmas Eve worship services in his barn and enjoyed creating a rustic atmosphere welcoming all.  He also enjoyed the fellowship of many and made the move to Crystal Seasons to be near his friends.  He never forgot a birthday and was blessed to be a part of many family gatherings. 

Grateful for having shared his life is his niece, Barbara (Robert) Roble of Sioux Falls, SD; nephew, Leland (Jeanie) Nokes of Bloomington, MN; and many adoring great and great-great nieces and nephews.  He was fortunate to have the close friendships of LeRoy Olson, Bonnie Kopischke, and Ellsworth Kelley.  He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Peggy in 1988; and sister, Ruth Nokes in 2015.

The family wishes to thank Crystal Seasons, MCHS, Mankato, Mayo Clinic Hospice, and Pathstone Living of Mankato for the care they provided for Sig.