Ruth “June” Swenson Griepp, age 81 of Prior Lake, began her eternal life surrounded by her children in her home on the lake on January 30, 2022.
Ruth was born on June 21, 1940, minutes after her twin brother, James, in New York Mills, MN. Her parents, John and Alice (Kluge) Redetzke did not know they were having twins. They had decided on “Ruth” for a girl, but since it was popular back then to have matching names for twins, they began calling them James and June. James passed shortly after birth, but the 3.1 lb. baby girl and her twin-name, “June,” survived a lifetime.
An avid member of the yearbook and newspaper staff, June also enjoyed theatre and playing the saxophone while attending New York Mills High School. At home, she learned to sew. She graduated in 1958, then bravely headed to the big city with three girlfriends, where they shared an apartment in south Minneapolis. June was proud and excited to land her first job at Honeywell.
After making her own wedding dress, she married Curtis J. Swenson on March 11, 1961. Throughout the rest of the 60’s, Curt and June would have three children, Jeffrey, Julie and John. They began raising the family in Coon Rapids, then built a home in Anoka, where June taught herself how to play the organ. In 1970, Curt and June bought a car dealership and moved to Madelia, MN. June worked at the dealership and at the high school. She sewed clothes for her family, sang in the church choir and loved being a Girl Scout leader. Curt and June bought a cabin on Lake Koronis in Paynesville, MN, where they enjoyed many treasured years of fun with family and friends. They also travelled to Europe, Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean. In the spring of 1978, Curt took a trip to Phoenix, AZ to attend an auto auction, only to become captivated by the beautiful weather. By that summer, the auto dealership was sold and the Swensons moved to the Valley of the Sun. Curt and June purchased an auto care shop and worked together in commercial real estate. June also began working for the Gray Plant Mooty law firm while in Phoenix. The family again found weekend fun learning to snow ski together in the mountains of northern Arizona.
After losing Curt in 1982, June returned to Minnesota where she excelled at her career as a paralegal with Gray Plant Mooty in downtown Minneapolis. She would remain a revered member of the firm for nearly 20 years until her retirement in 2000.
June found love a second time after joining a ski club where she met a talented and handsome skier named Arden Griepp. Together, the two purchased a home so far out at the time, they had to travel gravel roads to get to their new home on Prior Lake. June always loved decorating her homes and was a talented and gracious host. In 1985, she and Arden were married in their beautiful home, surrounded by their six children, family and friends. Being the hard worker that she was, June helped with her husband’s blacktopping business, working long hours while enjoying her life on the lake with Arden by her side.
In the late 90’s, Arden and June began traveling in the winter, seeing Alaska and most of the lower 48 states before settling into a village home each winter in their beloved Palm Creek Resort in Casa Grande, AZ. It was there that June was able to do what she loved most . . . sew. She would go on to become a “master seamstress,” teaching quilting classes and chairing Palm Creek’s annual quilt show. Eventually, she served several years as President of the Palm Creek Sewing & Quilt Guild. Her quilted items will be cherished for many generations to come. In the summers, she and Arden would enter many of their projects in the Scott County, Dakota County and Minnesota State fairs. Together they earned countless ribbons and accolades for their talents in quilting, woodworking and painting. June also loved the group of dear friends she spent time within the Prior Lake Quilters and Daystitchers groups.
June was an amazing wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, employee, teacher, leader, entertainer, decorator, cook and seamstress. She lived a life full of love, beauty, kindness, generosity and talent. Her time on Earth may have come to an end, but her life will inspire many who loved her and her talents for years to come. She will forever be adored and greatly missed by her children, Jeffrey Swenson, Julie (Gary) Parks, and John Swenson; step-children, Cheryl (Dan) Jorgenson, Darrell Griepp, and Craig (Judi) Griepp; six grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; sibling, Muriel Botkin; and many other nieces, nephews, family and friends.
June is preceded in death by her husbands, Curtis Swenson and Arden Griepp; parents, John and Alice Redetzke; twin baby brother, James Redetzke; sister, Lorraine Anderson; and brother, Orville Redetzke.
A celebration of June’s life is at 11:30 AM on April 23, 2022, at Prior Lake Baptist Church, 5690 Credit River Rd SE, Prior Lake. Public visitation is from 9:30-11:20 AM prior to services. A luncheon will follow the service.
