Kenneth D. "Butch" Swenson, 56, Eden Prairie, MN, died Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park, MN, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Butch was born December 6, 1951 at Cooperstown, ND, the son of Kenneth and Alma (Groven) Swenson, rural Finley. He was raised in rural Finley and graduated from Finley High School. He attended the North Dakota State School of Science, Wahpeton, and had been employed by local farmers, as well as Chet's Standard, Strand Ready Mix, Steele County Road Department, E. W. Wylie, Fargo Tank and Fuel, and Behm's. He was currently employed by Pioneer Industries Inc., Minneapolis, MN.

Butch married Barb Olson on May 17, 1996 at Sheyenne Valley Lutheran Church, rural Finley, where he had been baptized and confirmed. They resided in Finley until 1998, and then moved to Minnesota.

Butch loved traveling, camping, kayaking, ice fishing, watching the Minnesota Wild play hockey, tormenting their cat, visiting with friends, barbequing, and spending time with his grandchildren.

Butch will be deeply missed by his wife, Barb, of Eden Prairie; two children, Bryan (Tammy) Olson, Dent, MN, and Heidi (Paul) Heinen, Casselton, ND; 7 grandchildren, Eli, Tate, Kali, and Ayla Olson; and Andrew, Jackson, and Mara Heinen; his mother, Alma Swenson, Hatton, ND; two sisters, Marilyn Poole, Fargo, ND, and Cathy Swenson, McVille, ND; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents.

Funeral services will be Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the Sheyenne Valley Lutheran Church of rural Finley, ND. Visitation will be Friday, February 1, 2008 from 4 PM to 8 PM in the Cooperstown Funeral Chapel and continue one hour prior to services in the church.  Organist will be Delphine Martin.  Casketbearers will be Chad Bomber, Chris Moen, Frank LeBron, Greg Harvey, David Johnson, Neal Ihry, Robert Bower and John Hauglid.  Honorary casketbearers will be Bryan Olson, Paul Heinen, and all grandchildren. Interment will be in the Sheyenne Valley Cemetery, rural Finley.

Arrangements with the Cooperstown Funeral Chapel.