Alan K. Swedberg

Alan K. Swedberg, 70, of Vergas, MN, passed away on June 8, 2011, at Sanford Palliative Care. He was surrounded by his loving wife of almost 49 years and the rest of his family.Alan was born on December 18, 1940, in Aitkin, MN to Ed and Lorena Swedberg. He was raised in Malmo, MN, and the Twin Cities area. In 1946, the family moved back to Malmo, MN, where he attended a one room school through the eighth grade. He graduated from Aitkin High School in 1958, where he was active in football, wrestling, track and choir. After graduation, Alan worked for Montgomery Wards, and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October, 1959, and served in Patuxent River Naval Air Station, MD. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1964 and returned to employment at Montgomery Wards and Our Own Hardware until 1963. On August 18, 1962, he married Patricia Dummer from Aitkin, MN. They made their home in Rogers, MN. In 1963, Alan decided to pursue an education at St. Cloud State University. He finished his Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education/Special Education in less than three years. Alan taught one year in Roseville, MN and went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Special Education Administration. In 1969, he was hired as the first Director of Special Education for Moorhead Public Schools. During the summers of 1973-1975, Alan continued his studies and in 1975 took a sabbatical leave to complete a Specialist degree in Education Administration at the University of Minnesota. He continued to work as a director in the Moorhead School System until he retired in 1999. Alan was active in many organizations and committees to promote Special Education, including the Special Olympics. Alan was an active member of the El Zagal Oriental Band and also a member of the Moorhead Masonic Lodge. Alan enjoyed spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, reading, traveling to Florida in the winter months, and enjoying life at the lake in the summer. He will be missed dearly by his family and numerous friends.Alan is survived by his wife, Patricia; daughters, Kimberly Kevin Melander and Leah Swedberg; and son, Charles Jessie Swedberg, and grandchildren, Jacob and Ella Swedberg, Kaleb and Kade Melander, all of Moorhead, MN. Also surviving are his brothers, Jerry January Swedberg of Park Rapids, MN; Vic Tommie Swedberg of Manchester, MD; sister-in-law, Sharon Johnson of Aitkin, MN, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Norman Swedberg; and aunts and uncles.Memorials are suggested to Moorhead Area Education Foundation Dollars for Scholars for an annual scholarship, El Zagal Shrine, or Trinity Lutheran Church.