Eileen Frigard
On June 2, 1937, Eileen was born to Hilmer and Emma (Graff) Swenson at their home in East Valley Township, the first of twins—Eileen and Eldon. Eileen was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith. She attended country school where her mother taught before attending high school in Newfolden, graduating in 1955. She attended nursing school in Thief River Falls and worked in Minneapolis, MN.
Eileen met the love of her life in Minneapolis and was married to Hank Frigard on April 6, 1963. The happy couple made their home on Grand Avenue, Minneapolis before moving to Princeton, MN in 1987. Eileen was always an active part of church activities during their married years. She also assisted at the Elim House Nursing Home, visiting residents and sharing her baked goods. They shared 48 years of marriage before Hanks death on August 19, 2011.
Eileen loved feeding and watching the birds especially humming birds where she attracted many. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, sewing quilts, embroidering, crocheting, and she loved sharing her baking with others. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, WELCA, The Basement Quilting Angels, The American Legion Auxiliary, and very active in the Senior Center. Engaging in their exercising, dining, crafting, writing to 6th grade student pen pals, and organizing activities. In 2018, Eileen was proud to be awarded the Outstanding Senior Citizen Award for Marshall County. Eileen was a letter writer and read the Minneapolis News Paper religiously. Eileen and dear friend, friend, Gladys Johnson, checked on one another each day by contacting each other by mail check!
Eileen Geraldine (Swenson) Frigard, 84, of Newfolden, MN, died on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the Thief River Falls Care Center, Thief River Falls, MN.
Eileen is survived by her nieces and nephew: Cecelia “Tootsie” Swenson, Middle River, MN; Becky (Mitch) Brodersen, Newfolden, MN; Cindy (Bruce) Pepperling, Roseau, MN, Dawn (Rick Peterson) Blank, Newfolden, MN, and Robert (Rebecca) Swenson, Middle River, MN; many great-nieces and nephews; step-children: Dan (Linda) Frigard, Judy Schwartz, and Sharon Jeffries, all of Arizona; step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and several other relatives.
She was preceded by: her husband, Hank, step-son, Steven Frigard, parents, twin brother, Eldon, brother, Robert “Duane,” sister-in-law, Corrine Swenson, and niece, DeLayne McBride, grandnephew, Caleb Vickaryous, step-daughter-in-law, Ann Frigard Memorial services will be 5 PM Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at Johnson Funeral Chapel, Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial will be at the Emmanuel Lutheran Ringbo Cemetery, Holt Township, MN.