Randall Swenson

Randall K. Swenson, 38, died August 7, 2007 at his Seaview residence of a brain tumor. The son of Keith and Georgene (Moskovita) Swenson, he was born June 5, 1969 in Great Falls, Montana. As a child he lived in Great Falls and later in Seattle, Bellingham and Littleton (Centennial) Colorado. Randy graduated from Arapahoe High School in Littleton, CO and earned his bachelor degree in sociology from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. As an adult he lived in the Seattle-Tacoma-Renton area and in Newport, Oregon before moving to Seaview last year. Randy worked in home health and several business clerical positions while health permitted. He loved music and sang in school and church choirs since childhood. He toured Sweden with the Bethany College Choir in 1988 and had a vast music collection. He had participated in theatre with roles in Godspell, Amadeus and also The Music Man with the Porthole Players in Newport, Oregon. Randy was a huge sports fan, especially of football. His predictions were often more accurate than the professional prognosticators. He also loved to ski and travel. His life was all the more remarkable considering the near life-long struggle he had with a brain tumor, which became malignant and took his life. Randy was a supporter and participant in Relay for Life. He was so proud to complete the survivor's lap this past June on the Ilwaco High School track. Randy had a deep Christian faith and a deep sense of social justice. He supported several human rights and social advocacy organizations and projects. In 2004 he went on a mission trip to Poland with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-Oregon Synod. This past Easter he joined the Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church in Seaview. Randy is survived by his parents The Rev. Dr. Keith and Georgene Swenson of Seaview, WA; brother Mark (Cherilyn) Swenson of Pt. Roberts, WA and Santa Fe, NM; sister Janna (James) Wagar of Seattle, WA; grandmother June Moskovita of Astoria; aunts and uncles Rev. Tyger (Rev. Todd) Penson of Longmont/Estes Park, CO, Joy Johnson of Rosburg, WA; JoAnn (Chuck) Williams of Scappoose, OR and Kathleen (Randall) Orcutt of Bellingham, WA; nieces and nephews Bjorn and Kaja Swenson and Avery and Hayden Wagar; and other members of his extended family. Memorial service will be Sunday, August 12, 2007, 4:00 PM at Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church in Seaview, WA. A reception follows at the church. The family requests memorials to Amnesty International, Heifer International, Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church or Atonement Lutheran Church of Newport, OR. The guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.