Tom Swanson

Minot

Thomas Charles Swanson, beloved husband, dad, Bumpa, and friend, passed away on November 8th after a life rich in adventure and laughter.

Born on Christmas Day 1942 to Clark and Clara (Schug) at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee, MN. Tom was raised in Cologne, MN, in the shadow of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, where he attended church and elementary school.

Tom was a natural athlete and played football, basketball, and baseball for Central High School in Norwood, MN. He was honored as “Athlete of the Year” in his senior year. He played baseball for the Cologne Hollanders town ball team and at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Tom married Judith Kay Mehlan, on December 27, 1965, at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Minneapolis, MN. Tom’s job with the Jostens Corporation led them to Indianapolis, IN, Fort Wayne, IN, and Rochester, MN, before they planted permanent roots in Minot, North Dakota, in 1972 and raised their children Teal and Joe.

Tom worked in the car business as a salesman and later as a dealer partner at Fisher Motors. He then served as the primary fundraiser to remodel Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at Minot State University and later worked as a landman for Copperhead Corporation. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and was involved in fundraising for the American Diabetes Association and Minot State University.

Tom and Judy shared a lifelong passion for travel and shared experiences across the country and Europe. He attended premier sporting events including the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the Indy 500, the PGA Tournament in Pebble Beach, the British Open, the Ryder Cup, and cheered on the Minnesota Twins to win the World Series.

Few things brought him more joy than walking the fairways of the Minot Country Club and Vardon in the summer. In the winter, he and Judy chased the sun and continued their golfing in Florida. He loved to recount the tales of his three holes-in-one: one as a teenager on his home course in Waconia, MN, another on the 4th hole at the Minot Country Club, and a third in Destin, Florida. Tom was fortunate to play several famous courses, including the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Augusta National, GA, and Pebble Beach, CA. He also attended the Master’s golf tournament a number of times and wrote about the experience for the Minot Daily News as a special correspondent.

Tom had a deep passion for the outdoors. He lived by the sentiment of the Hemingway quote: “Best of all, he loved the fall.” He spent most fall days chasing roosters through the fields of western North Dakota. Stories of his hunting days are legendary and are retold each year when revisiting those locations. Always by his side was a loyal companion labrador retriever, both in the field and at home.

His expertise with retrievers extended far beyond the field. A longtime member of the Minot Retriever Club, Tom competed and judged in dog field trials across the United States and Canada for many years. He was selected to judge the prestigious National Retriever Club National Championship Stake in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1986.

He was most proud of his role as “Bumpa” to Barrett and Bridger. He was a dedicated grandpa who loved to chauffeur them to and from and attend their games and activities.

Tom was a storyteller who held his family and friends captive with his tall tales and jokes. He was known for his signature “Tom-isms,” memorable wisdom like, “Do something, even if it’s wrong,” when navigating life’s challenges, and his classic line to his grandchildren learning to ride a new tricycle: “Life stinks when you can’t reach the pedals.”

Tom’s story is carried on by his wife Judy, his daughter, Judith Teal (Erik) Myre, grandchildren Barrett and Bridger; and his son, Charles Joseph.

He is survived by his nephew Mick (Barb) Swanson and their children Tony, Tyler (Alexandra and children Callahan and Finnley), and Tim (Megan and son Kaysen); nieces Janice (Ken) Meyer, and Stephanie (Dale and children Brady & Blake) Dahl; and nephew Michael Zimmerman.

He is also survived by brother-in-law Ward Mehlan and his children Drake (Lucy and children Juniper and Maxine) and Noah; and sister-in-law Jane Lautz (and children Zoe & Emma.)

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Roger & Joanne Swanson; sister Marilyn Udell; nephew Terry Swanson; and brother-in-law Robbie Lautz.

Public Visitation: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

A Private Liturgy of the Word Service will take place at the Thomas Family Funeral Home. Contact the family for details. A livestream of the service is available by using the link in the website obituary. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com

Memorials are preferred to the Minot State University Nursing Education Scholarship Fund, Minot, ND.

Published by The Minot Daily News, November 10, 2025.