Roger Sween

 With gratitude for his life and sadness in our hearts, we announce the passing of Roger D. Sween, 85, of St. Paul on Aug. 24, 2025, after a long illness. Roger was born on May 2nd, 1940 in Montevideo, Minn. and grew up in Granite Falls, Minn. where he graduated from high school in 1958. He attended St. Olaf College, graduating in 1962, and earned a Masters of Library Science from the University of Wisconsin in 1966. Roger married Patricia Worringer of Lodi, Wis. in 1962. They welcomed their family of two children, Katharine in 1963 and Kristofer in 1965.

Roger served as a high school librarian and French language instructor in Markesan, Wis. and Boscobel, Wis. before becoming head of reference services at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He then served as head librarian in Red Wing, Minn. before leaving to teach reference at St. Cloud State University. In 1984, Roger became the grant administrator for the multi-county, multi-type library systems of Minnesota, administered through the Minnesota Office of Library Development and Services. He served in that position until his retirement in 2000.

Roger was a champion for education and learning, for freedom of information, for justice and peace and for all human rights. He and Patricia were nominated for the John R. Finnegan Freedom of Information Award in recognition of their work on the Minnesota Coalition for Intellectual Freedom. Roger was instrumental in developing the Minnesota Book Awards when it seemed that the program would dissolve after the second Minnesota Festival of the Book in 1989. He coordinated the awards, volunteering his time for almost 10 years through Metronet, the organization that serves Twin Cities area libraries. Roger was actively involved in defeating the marriage amendment that was proposed in the Minnesota legislature in 2011, allowing for the passage of the bill legalizing same-sex marriage in 2013. Throughout his life, he remained involved in his church community, serving as Chair of the Intern Advisory Committee, and in leading study groups on various topics.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon C. and Lelle (Berge) Sween, and daughter Katharine (Scott Heins) Sween. He is survived by his spouse, Patricia, his son, Kristofer (Donna Dingle) Sween, sisters, Shirley (Stanley) Furber, Susan (Philip) Read and brother, Robert (Lynn) Sween; five grandchildren, Benjamin (Carol) Heins-Daniels, Anna-Marie (Henry Kipke) Heins, Hannah Sween, Austin Sween and Henry Sween; great-grandchildren August, Nora and Rowan Heins-Daniels; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his life-long friend, Reverend Robert Hanson.

A celebration of life service will be held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1935 St. Clair Ave. St. Paul on Sept. 20 with visitation at 1:00pm and service at 2:30pm. Memorials preferred to the Katharine Sween Memorial Scholarship https://stolaf.alumniq.com/giving/to/default at St. Olaf College, a favorite library or the donor’s choice. (Click "I'd like to search for a different option" to find Katharine's scholarship.)

The family warmly thanks the staff of the Arbor at Lexington Landing and Optage Hospice for their loving care.

A celebration of life service will be held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1935 St. Clair Ave. St. Paul on Sept. 20 with visitation at 1:00pm and service at 2:30pm.