Sharon Swenson

Sharon Kae (Buffum) Swenson was born November 22, 1941, to Paul and Marcella (Mahoney) Buffum in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She lived in Magnolia until the 2nd grade and then moved to Pisgah graduating from Pisgah High School in 1959. Sharon married Harvey Leisinger on June 3, 1960. The couple was blessed with three children. The couple farmed near Pisgah and owned Sharon’s Drive Inn. She later worked at Seibel’s Grocery Store, the Pisgah Coop and McCord Trucking. Harvey died on September 1, 1983. Sharon married Dennis Swenson on January 18, 1985. They lived in Moorhead and operated Swenson’s Market and Summertime Drive Inn. Sharon later worked at the East Monona School as an aide.

Sharon was a member of the Moorhead Legion Auxiliary Post #365 and the Christian Women’s Fellowship. She loved watching her kids and grandkids play sports. She also enjoyed playing cards, visiting friends, listening to music, dancing, and going to the casino ~ especially in Las Vegas. Sharon had a wonderfully contagious laugh!

Sharon died on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at the Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa at the age of 69 years, six months, and 30 days.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Harvey Leisinger; parents-in-law, Earl and LaVerne Rustin, Gilbert Leisinger, and Dean and Rachel Davis; brothers-in-law, Marvin Leisinger and Gordon Barta; and sister-in-law, Judy Simpson. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Swenson of Moorhead, IA; three children, Lisa Winther and Brian Cave of Magnolia, IA, Teresa Leisinger of Lincoln, NE and Troy Leisinger of Omaha, NE; four step children, Mike (Jeanette) Swenson of Bellevue, NE, Rick (Amy) Swenson of Sioux City, IA, Randy (Sandy) Swenson of Wichita, KS and Denise (Dean) Buske of Onawa, IA; 10 grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; sister, Paulette (Dave) Roden of Pisgah, IA; her beloved dog, Bo; brothers-in-law, Larry (Linda) Davis of Dunlap, IA, Edwin (Carol) Davis of Anthon, IA sisters-in-law, Jane Barta of Omaha, NE, Ruby (Duane) Storm of Greely, CO, Jolene (Bryce) McDonald and Susan (Sam) Johnson all of Moorhead, IA, Brenda Stahlman of Starke, FL, Mary (Darin) Gebers of Holstein, IA; and many other relatives and friends.