Swenson, Helenrachel "Rachel" (Mackdanz) Age 82 of Edina, MN. Helenrachel was the daughter of Dr. & Mrs. R. Alfred Mackdanz, born November 23, 1936 in Mankato, MN. She graduated from Mankato West High School in 1954 where she was active in band, playing saxophone, and choir. She attended Mankato State College for 1.5 years and then graduated from Northwest Institute of Medical Technology in lab and X-ray and St. Andrews Hospital, a division of St. Barnabas Hospital, in X-ray. On September 10, 1960, she married Glenn Swenson in Mankato. They have two daughters, Jill and Gail. She worked for Dr. Y.T. Johnson, the Eitel Clinic, Control Data and at Lighten Up Enterprises. She was a member of Good Samaritan Church where she sang in the choir and was a member of Good Sam Singers. She was in the church bell choir, UMW, Tuesday AM Bible Study group, Evening Fellowship and the Bakers Dozen group. She was a PEO member and in the Blue Garter group from high school. She enjoyed piano and organ playing, card stamping, doing genealogy, entertaining and decorating for each holiday and being with her granddaughter, Lauren and doing a great Mackdanz cousin reunion. She is survived by daughters Jill (Marty) Weber, Gail Swenson, grandchildren Lauren and Harrison, brother Alfred Mackdanz, nephew Erik, niece Gretal, sister-in-law LaVerne Exstrom, aunt Luella Mackdanz and many cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by husband Glenn, parents, step-father Walter Croswell and sweet grand dog Sophie, cousins, aunts & uncles and brother-in-law Dwight Exstrom. Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 23 from 5-7 pm at Cremation Society of MN, 7110 France Ave S., Edina. Memorial Service will be held 11 am, Wednesday, April 24 at Good Samaritan United Methodist Church in Edina, with visitation one hour prior and reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Blue Earth County Historical Society or P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund.

Published on April 14, 2019