Beverly Jean (Buchholz) Swenson, age 74, of Mitchell, SD died unexpectedly Saturday, December 25, 2010 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD from pancreatitis. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Thursday, December 30, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church in Mitchell with burial at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Wessington Springs, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Wednesday at the Will Funeral Chapel.

Beverly Jean (Buchholz) Swenson, daughter of Albert and Opal (Brodkorb) Buchholz, was born August 4, 1936 in Avon, SD. She attended Central School in Crow Lake Township.

Bev was united in marriage with Bob Swenson on December 18, 1953 in Deer Creek, MN. After living in Deer Creek for the winter, they moved several times but settled back in South Dakota. She was employed for JC Penney in Winner, SD. Later drove school bus for the Wessington Springs School District, while working on the farm with her husband. In 1987, they moved to Mitchell where Bev worked part-time at Motel 6.

Grandma Bev adored her five grandchildren, Eric, Mallory, Lee, Erin and Amanda. She had a tender and loving relationship with each of them. Bevs hobbies included sewing, traveling, making crafts, reading, and puzzles and loved her dog, Molly.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Bob, Mitchell, SD; a daughter, Jane (Ken) Minahan, Sioux Falls, SD; a son, Brent (Christi) Swenson, Aberdeen, SD; grandchildren: Eric, Mallory, and Erin Minahan; Lee and Amanda Swenson. A brother, Dareld (Vi) Buchholz, Wessington Springs, SD; five sisters, Jessie (Vern) Speck, Rapid City, SD, Blanche (Roger) Swenson, Pahrump, NV, Marge (June) Swenson, Mitchell, SD, Alta (Lee) Butterfield, Wessington Springs, SD, LaVonne DuFrain, Arcadia, OK.

She was preceded in death by their son, Russell Dean; her parents; a brother, Mike; and a brother-in-law, Duane.