Debra Kae Cawley

To watch a recording of the service, please use the link: https://youtu.be/l9sB_M9L6EY 

Debra (Deb) Cawley, 69, of Inkster, ND died on Friday, November 26, 2021, at home surrounded by her family.

Debra Kae Swenson was born on October 1, 1952 in Devils Lake, ND to P. Thorsten and Margaret (Rosenberger) Swenson. She grew up on the Swenson family farm a mile west of Calvin, ND and attended school at Border Central.  She grew up with her extended family. She often could be found with her cousins, the Schneiders, on the next farm over.  She moved to Grand Forks and earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of North Dakota.  Through mutual friends at a Park River teachers Christmas Party, she met her husband Bill and after their first date, skiing at Frostfire Mountain their life-long relationship was kindled.  They were married in Forest River on September 13, 1980 and made their home on the Cawley farm along the Forest River.  Deb wore many hats as a teacher, coach, and athletic director in Park River, and she always loved to run into her former students.  She left teaching in 1981 to start a family and farm with Bill. 

Deb’s love for teaching and coaching drew her to Midway Public School where she worked as a Special Education paraprofessional for 27 years until retiring in 2017.  She spent several decades coaching Junior High and 5^th-6^th Grade Girls Basketball, Junior High Volleyball, and Track at Midway.  When not teaching or coaching, Deb was busy leading Sunday School, Bible School, and singing in the “Give or Take Six” women’s ensemble. 

Deb often could be found baking buns and cookies, mowing the yard, or working in her large garden.  She always had delicious food ready for neighbors and friends who stopped by.   She spent her energy loving on her grandchildren, enjoying praise music and worshipping God.  She cherished the members of her bible study and her close friends from work, church, and the community.

She was preceded in death by her parents Thorsten and Margaret Swenson and her infant brother, Ronald.

Deb will be greatly missed by her family and friends.  She is survived by her husband William (Bill) Cawley; Children: John (Sara DeWaay) Cawley in Fort Collins, CO; Kari (Sam) Owiredu in Corpus Christi, TX; Lori (Bryan) Miller in Jamestown, ND and Erin (Adam) Jore in Erskine, MN.  Siblings: Randy (Jeani) Swenson in Cook, MN and Cindy (Mike) Milkey in Minot ND and Buckeye AZ.  Grandchildren: Owen and Margaret Cawley; Syesha, Sarita, and Kingston Owiredu; Addilynn, Henrik, and Monte Miller; and Krosby, Joanna, and Boden Jore.   She is also survived by Louis and Jean (Rosenberger) Schneider and her nieces and nephews: Emily Tibbetts, Ryan (Maria) Swenson, Peder (Katie) Swenson, Peter (Chelsea) Sandmann, and Paula (Travis) Barton.

 Funeral services for Deb will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at 11am at Forest River Community Church, 202 Brennan Ave., Forest River, ND, 58233, followed by burial at Memorial Park Cemetery in Forest River.  Visitation will be held at the Amundson Funeral Home on Friday, December 3, 2021, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm with a time of remembrance starting at 5:30pm. The family suggests memorial contributions in honor of Deb, be sent to the charitable organization of your own choosing.