The Obituary Section

Mary Louise Distad

, Minnesota

Mary Louise Distad, age 75, slipped the surly bonds of Earth on October 12, 2026, at her home in Northfield, Minnesota. She will be forever missed.Born Mary Louise Olsen on February 13, 1951 in Northfield, she was the daughter of Norman S and Borghild Olsen and the youngest of four children. In 1969, she graduated from Wahpeton High School in North Dakota then married Ronald Pratt of Breckenridge, Minnesota. They had a son, Andrew John, in February 1978.After living in exotic locales such as Fargo, North Dakota, Saginaw, Michigan, and Phoenix, Arizona, Mary relocated to the Twin Cities and then back to Northfield. She later married John Distad and they resided in a townhome near the high school.Mary spent many years working in customer service and office administration and was still doing the books at the Northfield VFW. She was a fixture at the club’s various events and gatherings.Mary will…

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Donna Marie Swenson

, Minnesota

October 11, 2026

Donna Swenson, age 86, of Northfield, passed away on Monday, October 12, 2026, at Northfield Hospital, with her family by her side.Donna Marie Swenson was born on October 11, 1940, in Farmington, Minnesota, to Marvin and Margaret (Tutewohl) Pietsch. After graduating from Farmington High School, Donna met the love of her life, Norman, at a roller rink. Donna married Norman Swenson on May 20, 1961, and became a homemaker. The two have been going round and round ever since.Donna enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, and spending time with her friends, family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her laughter was always heard, and her snack drawer was always full for her grandkids. Later in life, Donna worked at the post office, where she eventually retired after more than 20 years so she could spend more time caring for her beloved pets, grandchildren, and Norm. (she loved caring for Norm)Survivors include her husband of 65…

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