Brenda Anne Mortensen (Schroder-Swope) was born to George and Alice (Wiges) Mortensen of Elk Horn on August 25th, 1945, in Harlan Iowa. She graduated from EHK community schools in 1963, and went on to graduate from CE School of Business in Omaha, NE.
On November 15, 1964, she married Lyle Schroder from Palmyra, NE and from this union there were 4 children Melissa (Bill) Ihnen, Marcy Dorsey (Marty Petersen), Chris (Crystal) Schroder, and Michelle Schroder. Later in life Brenda wed Ronald Swope of Atlantic, IA on February 21st, 2009.
Brenda worked at Cass County Memorial Hospital for 30 years and worked/volunteered at Atlantic Elks Lodge #445 for 20 years. She was a member of the BPO Does #23 holding all chair offices on the floor during that period along with being President of the Does #23 twice. She was selected to be State President and then Secretary of the Iowa State Does Association during the same 20-year period. She also joined the Elks Lodge as a member and served as secretary for most of the 20 years. Brenda was the first female Exalted Ruler of the Atlantic Elks Lodge #445.
Brenda enjoyed playing Bingo, reading, word puzzles and spending time with family and friends.
Brenda was preceded in death by her husband Ron Swope, parents, brother-in-law Donald Matthiessen, and son-in-law Scott Woolsey. Survived by her children, grandchildren, Cody (Jasmine) Ihnen of Gilbert, IA, Casey (Katie Korthanke) Ihnen of West Des Moines, Taylor (Josh) Blair of Wall Lake, IA, Emma (Nate) Moen of Rippey, IA, Kymberlee (Josh) Rose of Ute, IA, Daniel Schroder (Shelby Kaiser) of Atlantic, IA, Grace Clay of Atlantic, IA, Claire Schroder of Atlantic, IA, and Cooper Woolsey of Atlantic, IA, and great-grandchildren Mason and Brogan Blair, Drayke Casanova, Iyla Rose, Jasmine Rose, and Ryver Rose, and John Ray Moen, sisters Margo (Eldon) Larsen and Rosemary Matthiessen, sister-in-law Madelyn Roberts, son-in-law Dan Dorsey, many nieces and nephews, and many members of the Schroder family.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic with Minister Jason Zaiger officiating.
Burial will be at the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery in Elk Horn.
Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for future designation and can be sent in care of Schmidt Family Funeral Home to P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, Iowa.
The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic is caring for Brenda and her family at this time.
