Obituary of Rodney Swenson

Rodney Newcomb Swenson, Professor Emeritus, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2018. He was born on July 31, 1930 to Gilbert and Ruth Newcomb Swenson in Crookston, Minnesota. The family then moved to Hines, Minnesota where he attended school and then high school in Blackduck, Minnesota. At Bemidji State University he earned a B.A. in German, Spanish and Music. Language learning and language teaching was the course that his life would take. He studied French, Latin, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Old Norse and Swedish. After working for a summer on an ore boat on the Great Lakes, he went to Germany for a year's study at the University of Tubingen. Upon his return, he worked for the Minnesota Highway Department and then began studying for the Master's degree in German at the University of Minnesota, completing it in 1956. It was at the University of Minnesota where he met Evelyn nee Totzke, whom he married on August 10, 1957, sixty years ago. Their first home was in Albion, Michigan, where Rodney taught German at Albion College, while pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Michigan. In 1959, Evelyn and Rodney moved to Northfield, Minnesota. Rodney taught German at St. Olaf College and changed his studies back to the University of Minnesota, and there he obtained his doctorate in German and Linguistics. For eight years he taught at Hamline University in St. Paul. In 1967, he was awarded a Fulbright Hays to study in Germany. Starting in 1968, he taught German and served as Chair of the Language Department at Pacific Lutheran University. During his 32 years at PLU, he taught some 40 sections of German 101 as well as every German course in the university catalog. A quote from Rodney written for his high school reunion in 2008: "The years at PLU were certainly the best years of my life, and although I never imagined that I would ever leave Minnesota, the transplant has been very successful." From 1975-2007 he was the Fulbright campus/advisor. Under his guidance, seventy six graduates earned the prestigious Fulbright award to study or teach in a foreign country. He was founder of the Tacoma Language School and Director for a number of years. He was a lifelong member of Peace Lutheran Church in Puyallup where he also sang in the church choir for 30 years. He was active with the Boy Scouts of America and served as Scoutmaster for eleven years. He especially enjoyed hiking at Mt. Rainier and along the Pacific Ocean. Rodney is survived by Evelyn; two sons, Paul '90 and Karl 91, as well as grandchildren Sara, Alex and Rose. He is also survived by his brother, Jack, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, his parents and a sister. A celebration of life will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, Puyallup, at 2 P.M. on May 19, 2018 with a reception to follow. Memorials may be given to Peace Lutheran Church, Puyallup or to The Rodney and Evelyn Swenson Languages Scholarship at Pacific Lutheran University. Attn: Advancement Office, Tacoma, WA 98447.