Donna Marie Swenson

Donna Marie Swenson, nee Burmester, age 82, went to her heavenly home Saturday, March 7, 2026. Donna Marie Burmester was born in Elgin, North Dakota, to Henry Charles Burmester and Mary Louise Roehl Burmester. They brought her home to the family farm located near the Heart River, twenty-one miles North of New Leipzig, North Dakota. Three and a half years later, Donna was blessed with a little sister, Phyllis Jane.

Baptized into the Lutheran faith and raised on a farm, her life centered on the Lord, family, neighbors, and helping with farm chores. She started to learn to play the piano at age six when the family got a piano after Grandma Wilhelmina Burmester died. Her teacher, Mrs. Lydia Hertz, gave her 50-cent untimed lessons.

Donna and Phyllis attended a rural grade school for 1st-7th grades. The following year both girls went to New Leipzig, North Dakota to stay with family so they could attend a town school. The town school, however, was limited academically, so Donna and Phyllis boarded with church friends for Donna’s first two years of high school in Mott, North Dakota. Donna belonged to most of the school’s organizations and became the piano accompanist for trios and quartets for the school’s band and choir.

Upon completion of high school, Donna attended the Christian junior college Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. She toured with the chapel and concert choirs and gave a full organ recital her sophomore year. She then transferred to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where she wanted to major in organ, but discovered that she had some hearing loss and could not pass ear training. Donna double-majored in History and Political Science in Secondary Education and minored in Religious Studies.

Blessed by the Lord, Donna worked in His church as a Christian kindergarten teacher, catechism instructor, choir director, and as the church's Parish Worker for eight years at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glasgow, Montana. It was during this time that a physics teacher began attending church. Six years after their first church meeting, Sam and Donna were married on June 25, 1972.

Donna spent her life serving God through music (choir director and organist), and education and raising her three children. She was also an extremely talented seamstress, a skill she learned from her mother. She taught piano for 66 years and stopped teaching completely only two years ago! She regularly brought her students to Music Teacher Association and Piano Guild adjudications. She was a member of both organizations. Wherever she lived, Donna would take ongoing piano pedagogy courses.

Donna Marie Swenson is survived by her loving husband, Samuel, her priceless sister, Phyllis Jane (Ronald) Chewning; two daughters, Maria Beth Smith and Brita Jane Swenson; one son, Mark Samuel (April) Swenson; four surviving grandchildren, Caleb Gabriel (Brittany) Smith and Ana Marie (Bobby) Broadbent; two minor grandchildren; two nephews, Andrew Ronald (Jewel) Chewning and Daniel Lee (Jaime) Chewning; one niece, Marisa Chewning Olafsson; six grand-nieces, one grand-nephew, and one great grandson. She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry Charles Burmester and Mary Louise Roehl Burmester; as well as one grandson, David Michael  Smith; twelve aunts and uncles; beloved cousins; and some dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Grace Lutheran Church, 1600 Old Trolley Rd. Summerville, SC 29485. The family will receive friends for a viewing and visitation, an hour prior to the service. A reception will follow the funeral at 2:00 pm.