Jerome A. “Swed” Swedberg

Jerome Allen Swedberg “Swed”, 86, was born May 31, 1932and passed peacefully August 18, 2018 at his home. He was born to Wesley and Helen Swedberg, in Worthington, MN. They lived on the farm until the family moved to Minneapolis, when he was 14, so that his father could attend Northwestern Bible College and become a Baptist minister.

Jerome attended a trade high school in MSP for 1 year where he learned the basic skills he used his whole life.  His father was called to his first Church in Pickwick, MN and Jerome attended Winona High School where he graduated in 1951. With his best friend, Wayne Walters, he joined the Navy and 7 days before graduation he went to boot camp.  His father had to go and get his diploma.

He served on the USS Delta, a repair ship in the Pacific for 4 years. He said he learned a lot from the older guys in the shop.On returning home he married Kay Nauman and worked as a tool and die maker for Argus Camera in Spring Grove, MN.

In 1964 he became an instructor in the Machine Tooling dept. at the State School of Science, Wahpeton, ND. As dept. chair he brought the first CNC machine in the state of ND,teaching new skills and   creating one of the best and progressive teaching shops in the US. Over the years many of his students would stop and thank him for giving them the skills for a successful career. That meant a lot to him. He was a partner at Larson Welding, Fargo, ND and went on to start his own shop, Precision Machine of North Dakota, with partners Harold Larson and Carl Wendelbo. They purchased the first NC machine in a private shop. Always progressive, he embraced the computer age. Jerome was self- taught. He was a skilled machinist and always ready to learn new things. Nothing was impossible, nothing was too hard.

“Swed” was active in WMSTR at Rollag.  He served as Director, Secretary and President. It was his passion to preserve the machines of the past. He worked on many of the big projects you see there.  He collected and restored rare gas engines and tractors and traveled to many shows every summer exhibiting. He said it was the people who made the hobby so enjoyable and had friends all over the world.  Once you met him, you did not forget him, you had a friend.

“Swed”   had a dream of buying a sailboat and sailing around the world. In 1980, he married Elaine Everson and said “let’s go sailing” and they did.  So with no experience they went from Alaska through the Panama Canal and home to Duluth on a 5 year trip. He also had a special place for animals. “Fraiser”, a Siberian tiger, shared their life.  Swed would sit for hours with him. Morning coffee was special.

The family would like to thank all the friends and neighborswho helped make “Sweds” last 7 years good ones as he struggled with Shy-Drager Syndrome. The Fargo VA, Sanford Home Health, and Hospice were there for him. We can’t thank them enough for their care and concern.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine; ex-wife, Kay; daughters,Katheryn (Neal) Morin, Denise (Neil) Rondeau; sons, Henry(Anne) and Oscar (Jennifer); grandaughters, Dani (Kyle) Fennel, Liz Morin, Hannah (Michael) Ketchen, Kate (Matthew)Theilacker, and Jessica (Michael) Hooper; brothers Steve and Dennis (Carol) and sister, Janet Babcock.

There will be no service. The family has already celebrated his life. “Swed” took his whole family on a Cruise several years ago instead of having a funeral. He said he wanted to be there and enjoy it.

Memorials can be given to the charity of your choice. Swedwould like it if you would go to Rollag and enjoy and experience the magic. Maybe you will get the Rollag fever. Swed lived life to the fullest, had wonderful friends and family and enjoyed each day.

The Clock of Life is Wound but Once

On an ancient wall in China where a brooding Buddha blinks deeply graven is the message

It’s later than you think.

The Clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the powerto

tell just when the hand will stop at late or early hour.

Now is the time you own, the past is a golden link, enjoylife now my brother,

It’s later than you think.