Obituary of Jane L Swanson

Age 97, of Edina, died peacefully in her sleep on April 1, 2024 after a brief illness. Born in Lake Benton, Minnesota MN on May 17,1926 to Gertrude and Walter Soderlind. Jane had fond memories of her childhood in Lake Benton and returned regularly for high school reunions and to visit family and friends. She reminisced about staging marionette shows, riding horses, camping, playing her trumpet in the band, and teaching herself to twirl a baron. After graduating from high school Jane moved to Minneapolis to attend and graduate from the University of Minnesota where she meet her future husband, Donald. After their marriage in June 1947, they lived briefly in Chicago before returning to Minneapolis. In 1968, she was the first recipient of the Ivor Dunsford Memorial Award, given by the American Association of Blood Banks, for her discoveries at the Minneapolis Memorial Blood Bank, including several antigens (most notably the rare Pk antigen) and blood groups. A passionate and inspiring scientist, her career included 17 years as a Medical Technologist at the Minneapolis Memorial Blood Bank, a MS in Laboratory Medicine and 27 years as a Research Fellow at the University of Minnesota Department of Laboratory Medicine. During their married life they enjoyed boating on the St. Croix River and traveling in Europe. She will be missed. Preceded in death by parents, husband Donald and son Robert. Survived by brother Walter (Caren) Soderlind; daughter Julie (Tom) Rochat; 2 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Jane’s life will be held on Saturday, July 20 at 1:30 pm at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Ave. S., Edina. Memorials preferred to University of Minnesota Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (https://z.umn.edu/GivetoMedPathology).