Obituary - Marlene Swenson

Marlene Joan Lutey Swenson went to the loving arms of her Savior Jesus Christ February 17, 2021, while surrounded by her husband, Keith, and daughters, Kallie and Leslie. Marlene was 88 years old.

Marlene Joan Lutey was born on April 17, 1932, to Mable E. and William H. Lutey in Helena, MT. Marlene was the seventh of 10 children born to that union.

Marlene attended Helena schools and graduated from Helena High School in 1950. She met Keith while attending Northern Montana College in Havre and pursuing a degree in education. Marlene was united in marriage to Keith Swenson on October 20, 1957, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Helena, MT.

Marlene received her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 1972. She later received a Master of Education degree in elementary education in 1985. Marlene was an elementary teacher for Havre Public Schools for 26 years, retiring in 1997. She was passionate about her teaching career and her students. She was known for her fun and creative teaching style.

Marlene and Keith had two daughters: Kallie Elida (Patrick) Audet of Helena, MT and Leslie Ann (W. James) Hettrick of Clancy, MT. She and Dad were blessed with four grandchildren, Alexa Audet, Jordan (Steven) Morales, Bree (David) Barbour, Hailee Hettrick, and four great-grandchildren, Willow and Walter Barbour, Ella Morales, and Liam Heimbach.

She loved to travel with Keith and had many fond memories of their trips to Hong Kong, China, Japan, the Philippines and the Bahamas. Marlene loved reading and learning new things and especially enjoyed reading inspirational writings. Marlene mostly loved spending time with her family and especially loved watching her grandchildren participate in sports and their various activities.

Along with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she is survived by her husband, Keith Swenson, her brother Chad (Virginia) Lutey and sister-in-law Margaret Swenson.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Mable Wegner, Betty Algard, Genevieve Young, Ellen Leary, Myrtle Murfitt, and her brothers Selmer Lutey, William Lutey and Stanley Lutey.

Marlene's memorial service will be Thursday, February 25, at 1 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. in Helena, MT. A reception will follow the service.

Please visit http://www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Marlene.