Obituary for Arvin Odegaard

Arvin was born December 7, 1946 in Bagley, MN to parents Verner and Rose Odegaard. He grew up in the small town of Gonvick, MN where he excelled in numerous sports during high school. He left Gonvick for Michigan to attend General Motors Institute, where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and then began working at General Motors-Chevrolet in Livonia, MI. While living in MI he met his future wife, My, on a blind date.  In 1970 he was transferred to Rochester Products in Rochester, NY. In 1971 he and My were married in Redford, MI and shortly after they moved to Fairport, NY. In 1973 he and his brother Dennis started their own business, Swift Machines, Inc. in Penfield, NY, where they did prototype machining until he retired in 2003.

Arvin enjoyed reading, puzzles, playing cards, golfing, tinkering, and could fix just about anything. He enjoyed spending time with family and playing games with his grandsons. He was loved very much and will be terribly missed.

Arvin is survived by his wife of 51 years, Helen “My” (Street) Odegaard, daughters Carrie (Peter) Tamm of Newton, MA and Kristen (Patrick) Rommel of Palmyra, NY, grandsons Jonas, Kyle and Zachary, sisters Joann Birkeland of Gonvick, MN and Debbie (David) Heitke of Paynesville, MN and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Verner and Rose (Johnson) Odegaard, brother Dennis Odegaard, and brother-in-law Ordean Birkeland.

Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to The American Cancer Society or Samhold Lutheran Church, 259 North Ave., Gonvick, MN 56644.