Matilda "Ginger" Mae Swenson

Matilda Mae Swenson, “Ginger” 90 died on February 10, 2025, at home at Hoosier Village Retirement Community in Zionsville. Her loving parents were Sarah Lee and Daniel Snepp. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Houston L. Swenson “Hugh”. Survivors include sons Ken (Jo) and Dave (Jeanne) Swenson, daughter Kathy Ratekin (Mark), six grandchildren Lauren Grainda (Mark), Kyle and Jessica Swenson (fiancée Steven Harrelson), Willie, Mitchell (fiancée Maddy Keegan) and Tommy Ratekin, and great grandson Andrew Joseph (AJ) Grainda. 

Ginger was proud of her time growing up in Evansville, Indiana and attending Bosse High School. Her education continued at Indiana University where she received a degree in teaching. During her time at IU, she was a member of the Morter Board, P.E.O. Sisterhood, and Alpha Chi Omega. During her time at IU, she met her “best friend” Hugh and they were married after graduating in 3 ½ years.

Following college, Ginger volunteered at the Indiana State Museum, was president of United Methodist Women in two different churches, served on numerous boards, and worked at the Alpha Chi Omega national headquarters.

Ginger’s joy resided in time spent with family. Whether in a tent in pouring rain, a canoe in the middle of a lake covered with whitecaps, or discussing the merits of IU athletics over Purdue’s, Ginger was always laughing, teasing, and loving. In 1994, Hugh and Ginger retired to Louisville, Colorado where outdoor recreation included tennis, x-country skiing in the mountains, camping, hiking, and biking. In 2007 they returned to Indianapolis to be closer to family. Throughout her life, she and Hugh visited more than 50 countries, documenting each vacation with detailed journals and photos.

Ginger was well recognized as an outgoing IU fan that loved nature and family. Her dearest friends at Hoosier Village enjoyed (we hope) her wit, banter, and constant annoyance with anything new. The saying “she knew no strangers” doesn’t begin to describe Ginger’s willingness to approach anyone at any time with a friendly comment. Her children refused to stand in checkout lines with her knowing that everyone would quickly know the entire Swenson story.

Ginger’s priorities throughout her life were guided by love, support and guidance of parents, church, friends, joy in family, and nature. Her lifelong love of loons was capped off with participation in a study capturing and banding wild loons. During this experience, as she held the quivering bird awaiting banding, she learned of the dedication and loyalty of the loon as it takes a mate once and for life. When we hear the call of the loon, the wind in the trees, or the flutter of hummingbird wings, we will remember her love of family, friends, and strangers.

A memorial service will be held at the Chapel at Hoosier Village on Wednesday, at 1pm February 19, 2025. Contributions may be directed to the Central Indiana Land Trust and the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home. To view the livestream, please click here.