Tara Jo Swenson

Tara Swenson, age 51, of Riceville, Iowa, died on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Hospitals – St Marys Campus in Rochester, MN.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 9, at the Riceville High School gymnasium.  Funeral Service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 10, at the Riceville High School gymnasium with Pastor Paula Hemann officiating.  Burial will be held at a later date.  Visitation will continue on Sunday one hour prior to the service at the school.  Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home Riceville is assisting the family.

Tara Jo Clayton was born March 23, 1970, in Osage, Iowa.  She graduated with the Riceville High School class of 1988.  On August 29, 1998, she married Kevin Swenson at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riceville and spent the last twenty-three years raising their 3 boys - Trevor, Tanner and Trenten. For 17 years Tara worked for Iowa Select hog farms.  Due to her health she had to stop working for Iowa Select and began working for Riceville Community Daycare.  Tara absolutely adored the children at daycare.  Many of the children there became an extended part of her family.  Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tara was unable to continue working for the daycare, which allowed her to do what she loved most of all, being with her family.  She took every opportunity she could find to dress up and complete her make-up. Many times, this was telling her husband it was date night, so she had a reason to get ready. She was extremely proud of her 3 boys and enjoyed cheering them on at their sporting events. Tara was a loyal friend and said what she meant with some colorful words mixed in most times.  She liked to pamper herself by having her nails done, going shopping, never missing an episode of “The Bold and the Beautiful”, working on her scrapbooks, and playing cards and games.  Tara truly enjoyed spoiling her pets.  She was an avid Riceville Wildcat and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. Go Wildcats and Go Hawks!

She is survived by her husband Kevin Swenson of Riceville, IA; 3 sons Trevor Bill of Riceville, IA, Tanner Swenson of Raleigh, NC, and Trenten Swenson of Riceville, IA; parents Judy (Tom) McMaster of Riceville, IA; sister Tracie (Kevin) Christensen of Cylinder, IA; nephews Kyle (Amber) Christensen of Cylinder, IA, Colin (Madison) Christensen of Riceville, IA; niece Shelbie (Tony) Reding of Cylinder, IA; and great nieces and nephew Kadence, Paisley, Maddox, and Hadley. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Dean and Carmine Swenson, Brothers-in-law, Mike (Tiffany) Swenson, Osage, IA, Jason (Belinda) Swenson, Little Cedar, IA; Sisters-in-law, Becky (Bob) Jones, Osage, IA, and Sheila (Jason) Wadey, New Haven, IA. Nieces and Nephews - Devon, Taylor, Caleb, Callie, MaKenzie, Madison, Gunner, Kayven, Alexis, Sierra, Maycie, Briar, Reyde, Paislee

Tara was preceded in death by her grandparents Harvey and Dorothy Bill, Jim and Annabelle McMaster, Harold and Hattie Clayton, Edwin and Gladys Swenson, and Herman and Violet Rickerl and Herman’s first wife Joan; aunts and uncles Clayton “Buff” Bill, Janice Runnion, David Bill, Jesse Bill, and Barb and Roger Clayton; and her niece Kiley Jones.

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