Obituary of Dennis Lee Svendsen

Dennis Lee Svendsen, age 71, passed away on August 31, 2017 in St. Paul, MN. He was born July 26, 1946, in Fairmont, MN, to parents Holger and Bertha Svendsen. Dennis was one of four Svendsen children who grew up in Ceylon, MN. Dennis graduated from Ceylon High School in 1964 and continued his studies at the Minnesota Institute of Technology in Minneapolis. He enlisted in the Navy in 1966, and during four years of service as a Hospital Corpsman (HM), he was stationed at the U.S. Naval Station, San Diego; Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and the U.S. Naval Radio Station Fort Allen, Puerto Rico. After his military service, Dennis resumed his studies at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, IA, later graduating from the University of Dubuque in Iowa with a B.A. degree in biology in 1976. Dennis worked as a medical technician at Trinity Regional Hospital, Fort Dodge, IA and Bigfork Hospital, Bigfork, MN before joining a medical company in Eagan. He later worked for American Medical Systems, an affiliate of Pfizer, Inc. in Minnetonka, where he also resided.

Dennis was a person who dearly loved his family. His favorite vacations and holidays were spent with his family in Armstrong, IA, or at the family lake home in Crosslake, MN. He loved nature, animals, jogs or walks, baseball games and trips to the North Country. But most special were the times he spent with his four nieces and nephews: Dana, Brian, Erik and Leah. Uncle Denny was deeply loved and will always be remembered. 

He is survived by Roger Svendsen (brother) and Anu Sharma of Maplewood, MN; Gary and Donna (Svendsen) Bestmann (twin sister) of Redwood Falls, MN; and Marlys Svendsen (sister) and Steven Roesler of Sarona, WI. Nieces and nephews are: Dana (Svendsen) and Chuck Ochocki (Joaquin and Tomás) of St. Paul, MN; Brian and Jen Svendsen (Finley and Rhett) of Lonsdale, MN; Erik and Chi-Chi Lin Bestmann (Maya and Zoey) of the Bronx, NY; and Leah (Bestmann) and Mandar Soman (Lily) of Branchburg, NJ. Blessed be his memory.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 am on Friday, September 29, 2017 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1390 Larpenteur Ave E, St. Paul, MN. Visitation prior to the service will be at the Church at 10:00 am with a lunch following the service. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery will follow at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Friends of FANA Minnesota, 527 Riviera Dr, New Brighton, MN 55113 or Friends of the Park, PO Box 439, Redwood Falls, MN 56263.