This month of March 2020 brings us to introduce another of our residents, Winnie Swenson. She was born Winifred Stendel and grew up just outside of Meriden, MN. She went to District 48 Country School with her brother and then high school in Owatonna. As a teen, her family moved to Ellendale, where she helped out in their restaurant. There she met a young man just out of the service, named Clayton Halverson, whom she married a year later.

Winnie and Clayton moved to Owatonna where they raised 2 of their kids. Winnie worked at American Yearbook Co. (Jostens) and then Federated Mutual Insurance. They eventually moved to her grandparent’s home in Mariden, had another child, and purchased Torbert’s Locker in Waseca, renaming it Halverson’s.

Years later they moved again, to Otisco, and moved their business with them. After her husband died, she took a job at Brown Printing and worked there for 22 years. She met her second husband, Marvin Swenson, during
that time and moved, once again, to Waseca.

About a year and a half ago she moved for the last time, to Colony Court. Marvin had passed away and the girls didn’t think she should be living at home, alone. “I didn’t know if I’d know anybody here, but it’s like family now and it’s wonderful! As long as I can live here, I’ll never have to wear another winter coat!”

We think of you as family too, Winnie, and we’re so glad you moved in!