Lyle W. Swenson

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Lyle Swenson, 89, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell. Funeral services will be at 2:30 PM Tuesday, July 30, at First United Methodist Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Servicemen's Memorial Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be Monday, July 29, from 5-7:00 PM at the church with Masonic Rites and prayer service at 6:30 PM.

A live stream of Lyle's funeral service can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/event/4136572

Lyle Weir Swenson was born in Pipestone, MN on April 13, 1935, to Weir and Marie (Warwick) Swenson.  The family moved to Mitchell in 1943 and that became his home, although he was always proud of his birth city as well. 

He attended school in Mitchell, graduating in 1953. 

He joined the military, the SD National Guard in 1952 serving 8 years, attaining the rank of SFC and honorably discharged in 1960.   

He married the love of his life, Irene Louise Munk on January 10, 1960 at the First United Methodist Church in Mitchell. They spent their honeymoon driving to Pierre in not-so-nice winter weather as Lyle was scheduled to test for the SD Highway Patrol the next morning. He ended up not qualifying for the Highway Patrol. 

Then in March of 1961 he was hired as a Deputy Sheriff for the Davison County Sheriff's Office. He served as deputy until 1964, and then was elected Sheriff and took office in January 1965. He would remain in that position for 32 years, often running unopposed. He retired in 1997, before taking the US Marshals job. 

Two children were born to the union of Lyle and Irene, Grace Marie in 1967 and Brian Keith in 1969. 

In June 1967, he attended his first National Sheriff's Conference in Las Vegas. Irene was not too pleased with him being gone, as she was pregnant at the time and due the following month with their first child.  That first conference started a forty plus year of service, learning, traveling and the making of many lifelong friends. He was always proud of the fact that he had met so many Sheriffs from all over the country as he felt these contacts could be valuable resources when needed.

He achieved his highest honor as he became the first SD Sheriff to be nominated to move up the ranks (multi-year process) and become the President of the National Sheriff's Association in 1989. He was sworn in at the conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, by the then current Mitchell Mayor Bud Williams. Irene wanted to attend so badly but didn’t want to fly, so after finding out there was no other way to get there, she reluctantly agreed to fly and was able to attend and enjoy the conference and the beauty of Hawaii. They were able to spend his year as President traveling throughout the country for meetings, getting to see more of the country and meeting more people along the way.

With a new President in the White House, Lyle was nominated by US Senator Tom Daschle to serve as US Marshal for the District of South Dakota. He was then appointed to the position by President Bill Clinton in 1997. He held that position until 2002, retiring after another change in political parties in the White House. 

He was a long-time member of the Downtown First United Methodist Church. 

Lyle believed very strongly in community involvement and giving back.

He was a member of the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce (1971-2002). 

AF & AM Resurgam Lodge #31 (1964 - 2024) Master Mason in 1969.

El Riad Shrine (1967 - 2002)

Yankton Scottish Rite (1979 - 2024)

Sons of Norway (1980 -2002) President 1983 and 1984.  Vice President (2002)

Mitchell Lions Club (1964 -1997 & 2002 to 2024) President (1971-1972)

Downtown Sioux Falls Lions Club (1997 - 2002)

Elected Lions Vice District Governor 5- SE (2003)

Mitchell Area Historical Society (1988 - 2024) President 1991, 92, 93, 2001, 2002 & 2003)

SD Children's Aid Board of Directors (1976 -1982) President 1981 & 1982

Community Alcohol/Drug Center Board of Directors (1977-1987) President 1980 & 1981

Methodist Hospital Board of Trustees (1989-1991)

United Methodist Healthcare Association of Greater Mitchell, Inc- Board of Directors (1992-1997)

Wesley Acres Retirement Residence Board of Directors (1994-1997) 

Salvation Army Advisory Board (1990-1992) Chairman of Building Committee (1991-1992)

Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Committee (1983-1997)

Mitchell Masonic Building Association Chairman (1991-1995)

SD Lions Sight & Service Foundation Board of Directors (1991-1992)

Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department (1958-1993) Captain-Retired

First United Methodist Church Administrative Board (1987-1988) President

First United Methodist Church Board of Trustees (1989-1997) Chairman 1994, 1995 & 1996

Mitchell York Rite (1965-2002)

Gavelers High 12, Sioux Falls (1998-2002) President (2001)

SD Law Enforcement OfficersStandards & Training Commission (1974-1988)

SD Board of Charities & Corrections (1983-1989) President (1986 & 1987)

State of SD Board of Pardons & Paroles (1992-1997) Vice Chairman (1995 & 1996)

Columbia Management Services, Inc. (NSA Liability Insurance) Board of Directors (1988 - 1997) Vice Chairman (1996)

SD Sheriff's Association (1965 - 1997) President (1970)

SD Peace Officers Association (1963-1997) President (1976-1977)

Lyle received many awards and honors throughout his life:

1966 & 1988   he was named the Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer by the Mitchell Exchange Club

1989   Sheriff Lyle Swenson Day was proclaimed by SD Governor George S. Mickelson on June 25, 1989

1991   Community Service Award by Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce

1993    Book of Golden Deeds Award by Mitchell Exchange Club

1993    The Best of SD Awards Top 100 by “Eyes on You” Magazine

1997    Inducted into the Corn Palace Stampede Hall of Fame

1997    SD Sheriff’s Association Honorary Life Member

1997     Lions International “Melvin Jones Fellow” by Mitchell Lions Club  

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 64 1/2 years, Irene; his children, Grace (Joe) Murphy of Mitchell and Brian of Lennox; three grandchildren, Adam Lyle of Lennox, Kaela Marie of Tea, and Killian Joseph of Mitchell; and former daughter-in-law, Julie Swenson. He is also survived by his siblings: Dale (Ruth) of Clarksdale, AZ, Sheila Keyman of Canton, Lowell of Antipolo City, Philippines, Paul (Diane) of Sioux Falls, and Genelle (Brett) Collins of Colorado Springs, CO; sister-in-law, Dolores Swenson of Litchfield Park, AZ; along with many cousins, nephews, and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; brother, Elliott at birth; oldest brother, Sherrill; along with his aunts, uncles, and his father-in-law; and brothers-in-law, Kent Krause and Michael Keyman.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorials be made in Lyle’s memory to the Carnegie Resource Center. 

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