Corrine Bernice Swee

Corrine Bernice Swee, age 95, died peacefully of natural causes on Monday, January 30, 2017 at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 10, 1921, Corrine was the first of four daughters of Bert H. Sagness and Cora Olivia Hanse. With her parents, she moved to Breckenridge, MN, in 1929, where Corrine grew up and graduated from high school. She attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri, and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1942, while at the University, Corrine met and fell in love with Knut Swee of the US Army’s 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) stationed at Ft. Snelling. They were married on February 27, 1943, in Denver during the period of Knut’s training at Camp Hale, Colorado. Upon Knut’s overseas deployment in WWII, Corrine moved back to Breckenridge, MN.

After the war, Knut joined her in Breckenridge, where they raised their six children. Corrine was instrumental in assisting Knut, who managed the Sagness Variety and Ben Franklin stores in Breckenridge, while raising the children in Breckenridge during the school months and at their Ottertail lake home during the summer. She also served as a member of the City Planning Commission, served as Chairman of the Residential Breckenridge / Wahpeton United Way, Co-Chair of the Republican Party of Wilkin County, local real estate agent, member of Wahpeton/Breckenridge Zonta Club, and owner and buyer for “Corky’s” and Sagness store.

Corrine was an individual of strong Christian faith. She was a member of the United Methodist Church while in Breckenridge and Zion Lutheran Church of Amor while residing at Ottertail.

Throughout her life, Corrine enjoyed archery, golf, snow skiing, fishing, bridge, bird watching, flower gardening, clothing design, piano, and had a strong fondness for the symphony, opera, and everything Norwegian. She was noted for keeping records of every plant in her gardens for over 40 years, and planning holiday meals where every entrée had an assigned place, and every detail was treated with respect throughout. Corrine was known for her artistic miniature clothing designs for the Barbie Doll series and staged seasonal scenes. She never failed to be impeccably dressed for every occasion and loved entertaining. Upon retiring, Knut and Corrine moved to their lake home on Ottertail Lake. Knut passed away in 2003 and Corrine remained at Ottertail Lake until 2014. For the last several years, she lived at the beautiful Lakeview Senior Living Apartments in Battle Lake, Minnesota.

Corrine and Knut had fallen quickly in love, became life-long soul mates, and were together for 60 years. Corrine is pre-deceased by her parents, stepfather Ray Sanders, husband Knut, sister Phyllis Braun; brothers-in laws Matthew (Bud) Braun, and Tony (Shirley) Zupan.

Corrine is survived by her six children Bert Erik Swee (Elizabeth) of Moorhead, MN; Bruce Annar Swee (Christine) of Seattle, WA; Kent Ray Swee (Diane) of Littleton CO; Kristi Cora (Tom) Kuder of Minneapolis, MN and Ottertail Lake, MN; Knut Sagness Swee (Mary) of Minneapolis, MN; Karl Morton Swee (Christine) of Waconia, MN.; 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters - Shirley (Tony) Zupan of Bozeman, MT; and Betty (Paul) Flora of Orlando, FL.

A memorial service will be held on July 28th at Zion Lutheran Church of Amor, Minnesota.