Jeraldine Kay Engeseth

Jeraldine K. Swor Engeseth, a kind, dedicated, supportive mother, grandmother and wife died peacefully Sunday, February 13, 2022 at Reflections Memory Care (Savoy, IL). She was 90 years old.

Jeri was born in 1931 in Duluth, MN, the first of 3 children to Nicholas and Pearl Swor (Thompson). Jeri was proud of her Swor family heritage. She spoke frequently about Sundays, where everyone gathered at her grandmothers house for Lebanese food. She enjoyed connecting at the annual Swor family picnic and Christmas party.

She graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1949. Her fondest memories of high school included playing the bass violin in orchestra and "jazzing up" the group when the orchestra leader was out of the room a story she proudly tells!

Her first job was at Marshall Wells in downtown Duluth. As you can imagine we still have several items that she purchased with her discount and sale price she loved to shop the deals. She loved to keep busy and worked various positions during her life, including in the Cashiers office at University of Minnesota, Duluth. Upon retirement she enjoyed part-time work in the Duluth school lunch program, where she continued to work until May, 2016 as a "lunch lady". She enjoyed the time with the kind students who visited her every day. She was proud of each of these positions as evident by her working until she was 85 even though she could have retired.

Jeri was married to her husband Gene for 59 years and had one daughter, Nicki. In the 70s she was active as a supportive parent in Jobs Daughters in Duluth. She enjoyed being a part of the parent team and chaperoning various activities. Later her and Gene became active in the Norway Hall, where they had many close friends. She was always happy to work which would keep her busy and to be of service to others.

She thoroughly enjoyed watching her grandchildren, Earnest and Emma, compete in their sporting events, Earnests Tae Kwon Do, and Emmas dancing. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren develop and never missed sending a card for their birthdays and holidays her hallmark was sending $2 dollar bills.

She enjoyed morning coffee at the local McDonalds with a great group of friends every weekday for years. If one is judged by the company they keep she had may long-time close friends some for over five decades, a tribute to her kind character.

Jeri was preceded in death by her husband (Gene), parents (Nicholas and Pearl) and her brother (Bruce Swor). Immediate family surviving includes her daughter Nicki and son-in-law, Bill Helferich and two grandchildren, Earnest and Emma, and her sister Linda Swor Hukriede Riendeau. In addition she has many extended family members, including several nieces and nephews.

Jeris family would like to extend a special thank you to Reflections Memory Care for their dedicated care in the past several months.

A service is currently being arranged for late spring in Duluth, MN. Details will be announced at a later date. Memorials may be made to Kenwood Lutheran Church or to the University of Minnesota, Duluth (https://give.d.umn.edu/).

Worked hard, never slowed down! Always moving! Best in a crisis! Is a simple way to describe a long life well-lived.