Steven Swenson

Steven John Swenson, 63, Bismarck. The final "Swenson, party for one" table was called on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Our world will be a little less colorful with the loss of this one-of-a-kind guy. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. today, Sept. 25, 2009, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck.

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place.

Steven was born Sept. 18, 1946, in Minot, N.D., the son of Gwen and Rube Swenson. He graduated from Minot High School in 1964. His life work was as a computer programmer; Steven loved his job because of the mental challenge it provided him. He worked for the past 15 years at NISC in Mandan. Steven also spent time as caretaker of his ranch; he loved the land and the peace it brought him. His times spent there with family and friends were his best.

Steven liked a cold beer, a good song, campfires, old westerns, the Green Bay Packers, the annual duck and goose hunts, baseball, and his babies.

Grateful to have been part of his life are: his wife, Barbara; his children: Sherry Peppers, and her children, Alex and Gabriella; Shona (Marty) Lenss, and their children, Megan and Connor; Michael Swenson; Stacy Olson, and her children, Joshua Heim, Erik and John Olson; Karen (Lance) Allard, and their children, Jessica, Rachel, Josie, Abbey, Samantha and Brittany Hieber; Jason (Nichole) Heim, and their children, Jackson and Logan. He is also survived by his sisters, Susan Swenson, Tok, Alaska, Shelley Swenson, Lincoln, Calif., and Nancy Mattson, Topeka, Kan.; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers-in-law, Alan Mattson and Glenn Hauge; and sister-in-law, Verna Hauge.

Go to (www.eastgatefuneral.com) to share memories of Steven and sign the online guestbook.