Roger Oliver Swanson, 86, 307 South Knowles Avenue, New Richmond, WI, died Tuesday August 4th, 2026, due to complications with his battle with cancer.

He was born in Rice Lake, WI, on June 13th, 1940, the son of Oliver and Mildred Swanson. Roger grew up in Clear Lake, WI. After graduating high school, Roger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, attending Boot Camp at Parris Island and becoming a helicopter mechanic until he completed his active-duty service. Roger attended UW-River Falls, where he met his wife, Dorothy (Vobornik) Swanson. They were wed in 1960, and lived in the Twin Cities where he worked at the U.S. Post Office in St. Paul. Eventually, they settled in the early 1970's on a farm between Amery and Clayton where they started a family dairy farm raising Jerseys. They continued the farm until retirement. Roger and Dorothy were married for 64 years until Dorothy's death.

Roger had various interests including watching sports, raising and riding/gaming horses, and anything associated with hunting, fishing or trapping. He loved his hunting trips with friends to Colorado for elk and South Dakota for pheasants, along with years of fishing the rivers and streams on the south shore of Lake Superior for trout and salmon. Roger enjoyed raising, training and working hunting dogs, especially his time raising Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Roger loved sports. He participated and excelled in Clear Lake High School varsity football, baseball, and basketball, and spent many years in league softball, bowling, and trap shooting.

He is survived by his three children, Steve (Gail) Swanson, Lynn Swanson, and Craig (Martha) Swanson. Roger and Dorothy have four grandchildren: Griffin, Anna (Andrew), Oliver (Taylor), and Isaac (Laurel), and three great grandchildren Madeline, Eloise, and Beckham.

Roger was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, his parents Oliver and Mildred and his sister Suzanne.