Lena Howk Swanson

Lena Howk Swanson died at the Mankato Lutheran Home on September 10, 2004. Until two years before her death, she lived with her daughter Donna and son-in-law Robert Mertesdorf in North Mankato.

She was born on March 15, 1915, to Paul and Hattie Schramn Piepenburg in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and christened Lena Augusta Clara. Three siblings " Louis, Clarence and Doris " preceded her in death. She is survived by brother Hugo and his wife Phyllis, brother Alvin, and Clarences widow Elaine Piepenburg.

On November 27, 1935, she married Phinas Howk. They lived in rural Meeker County, Minnesota, until they moved to Mankato in 1960. He preceded her death on Janurary 11, 1970. Lena Howk Swanson will be lovingly remembered by her family: daughter Donna and husband Robert Mertesdorf; daughter Eve and husband Clark Webster; grandson David Webster and wife Margaret Steen; granddaughter Anne Webster; great-grandsons Clark and Harrison Webster. She is also survived by her dear extended family: Robert and Eila Peace, Petri Peace, and Paula Peace.

On October 11, 1980, she married a long-time family friend, Ed Swanson, who passed away in 2002. She is survived by step-sons and daughters whom she had known since their childhood: Willard (and Mary Ann) Karg; Shirley (and Willard) Johnson; Donna (and Willard) Schultz; David (and Hazel) Karg; Bonnie (and Leo) Stugelmeyer; Karen (and Kenneth) Koll and their families.

Lena Howk Swanson was a warm and generous woman who developed many friendships during her lifetime in every community where she lived: Weslaco, Texas; Litchfield, Hutchinson, and Mankato, Minnesota.

Visitation will be at Mankato Mortuary, 1001 North Riverfront Drive, on Friday, September 17th from 4 to 7 p.m. and at Grace Lutheran Church, Fourth and Main Street, Mankato, on September 18th from 10 to 11 a.m. The funeral service will be at Grace Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 18th, and burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Mankato.