Leslie R. Swanson

A Celebration of Life for Leslie R. Swanson of Roseau, MN will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024 from 5-7PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau, MN. 

Leslie Raymond Swanson was born on September 13th, 1953 in Warren, MN, the son of Raymond  A. Swanson and Alice M. (Chruszch) Swanson. He was raised in Warren, confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and graduated from Warren High School in 1971. He graduated college from the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND with a degree in architectural drafting in 1975.

He was united in marriage with Gayle Lund in 1980 and they built their home in Spruce Township in 1984. Les drafted the blueprints and went to Beltrami to harvest the lumber for the proud home where they raised their 3 children, Sarah Gayle, Tyler Phillip, and Kyle Leslie.

Les was proud of many things in his life but at the top of his list was the following:

He was very proud of being a mighty, mighty Pony from Warren. He participated in track and was a ‘wrastler’ for all of his high school years and enjoyed racing snowmobiles.

He was very proud of his work, whether farming his own land, doing custom combining, or selling farm machinery. As a teenager he spent years working the farm for Art and Marvin. He had much success selling farm machinery for Gerald Wagge for many years. He was incredibly proud of his land and years spent farming there. He also spent time post ‘retirement’ continuing custom farming in the lake country.

He was also very proud of his friendships. He had many friends from high school who he spent a lot of time with and kept in touch with throughout the years. He also had friends who became like family up at the lake on Long Point.

He was most proud of his family, especially his 3 children and grandchildren. He enjoyed watching his children’s sporting events and travelling for hockey and basketball - “going broke but having a lot of fun”. He proudly served on White Tail Acres Association (deer camp) in Grygla and hunted with both his friends and family there. He loved holding his grandbabies and spoiling them with candy, namely suckers or Snickers from the freezer.

He had one hell of a ride living life the way he wanted until he lost his courageous battle with cancer at his home on July 4th. He was laid to rest in the Malung Cemetary.

He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond, and is survived by his mother, Alice; brothers Lonnie (Laurie) Swanson of Roseau, MN and Mark Swanson of Leawood, KS; daughter Sarah (Scott) Gailfus of Rolla, ND and sons Tyler Swanson of Lake of Woods, MN, Kyle (Tiffinee) Swanson of Rochester, MN, and his beloved black lab, Duke; grandchildren Emma and Brody Gailfus, Alexa, Ava, and Aspen Swanson; several nieces and nephews and Godchildren, Ryan Swanson, Nycole (Erickson) Hass, and Grant Slick.

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