Journal entry by Megan Smith —
A private funeral will be held on Friday, October 30th. Seating is limited to those who the family has invited to attend. A stream of the funeral will be available at the link below:
http://boulgerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/derek-sway/
- Beloved friend, son, husband, and cherished dad, Derek Dexter Sway, 35, of Moorhead, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2020, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo,North Dakota due to complications from pneumonia and a lung infection.Derek was born to David and Kathy Sway of Moorhead, Minnesota on October 4, 1985. Hismile-wide smile and heart of gold blessed those around him from a young age. When hisyounger brother Koby came along, the two of them were best buddies from the start. During hischildhood, Derek's Grandpa Roger taught him to fish, a hobby he continued enjoying throughouthis life. He looked forward to weekend getaways at Devil's Lake, North Dakota, and lovedshowing his daughter's Tessa and Cora how to hook a worm, and looked forward to teaching hisson Noah the craft. At Moorhead High School (Class of 2004), Derek was an avid hockey playerand golfer, with a backswing that made him look like a pro. Most recently, he was able to get ina few rounds during a Montana family vacation. A sports fan in general, he enjoyed cheering onthe Minnesota Wild Hockey, Minnesota Gopher Hockey, NDSU Bison Football, and theMinnesota Vikings.During high school, Derek started working at Hornbacher's as a bag boy and soon beganclimbing the ranks, reaching a manager position in several departments throughout his 17 yearsof employment. His work family was like a second family, and he always looked forward tovolunteering on the annual United Way fundraising team.Derek met Kay Mitchell in 2012 at a nutrition shake store. Once he saw her, he knew he wouldmarry her. Soon he began visiting her store more and more frequently until he worked up thecourage to ask her on a date. From that moment on, he was devoted to her in every way andcherished their relationship dearly, including stepping into the role of father to Kay's 5-year-oldniece, Tessa. Derek and Kay married in Moorhead on February 20, 2016, in a beautiful, sparkly,and snowy ceremony. That day, nothing could remove his enormous smile spread across his faceas he knew he married the love of his life.In 2015, Derek and Kay moved their family to Halstad, Minnesota, where they purchased theirfirst house and with a lot of elbow grease, made it into a home. A couple of years later, theywelcomed their daughter, Cora Anastasia in November 2017. They cherished their time inHalstad but decided to return to Moorhead in 2019, and in January 2020, they welcomed theirson Noah Allen. Derek's calling in life was being a father. He adored his three children andworked tirelessly to provide a good home for them and create memories together. He was thekind of dad who got down on the ground to play, wrestle, read books, and snuggle. With Derek,there was always an emphasis on family. As he grew into an adult, Derek stayed close with Daveand Kathy, visiting their home often during the week and always placed importance on comingtogether as a family for holidays and special celebrations. Derek was happiest when with hisfamily.Mid-October, Derek fell ill and sought treatment at Sanford. His symptoms aligned with
- COVID-19 so he was administered a test and quarantined until he received the negative results.On Sunday, October 18, Derek was admitted to the Sanford ICU, where they discovered theseverity of his condition. That evening, when he coded the medical team recovered a pulse andspent the week helping his body heal. Unfortunately, a brain scan revealed our worst nightmare.On October 24, surrounded by his loving wife and immediate family, Derek was removed fromlife support and his beautiful soul left this world to be with God.Derek is survived by his wife Kay and children Tessa, Cora, and Noah, parents David and KathySway (Moorhead), brother Koby and sister-in-law Amanda (Omaha, Nebraska), several aunts,uncles, and cousins, and a niece and two nephews to whom he was a wonderful uncle. Derek ispreceded in death by grandparents Roger and Pauline Geck (Moorhead) and Selmer and LillianSway (Moorhead).The family is holding a private visitation and funeral service at Boulger Funeral Home on Friday,October 30, at 2:00 PM. The funeral will be livestreamed on Boulger's website at 2:00 PM onFriday, October 30.Memorial funds have been established at a GoFundMe webpage, which can be found bysearching Support for Derek Sway's Medical & Family Expenses. The family is grateful for theoutpouring of love and support they are receiving during this difficult time.Arrangements entrusted to the care of Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center,Fargo. To sign the online guestbook and view the service, visit www.boulgerfuneralhome.com.
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