In 1887, while visiting some of her mother's relatives in Michigan, one of Gelena's brothers wrote to her about going to Texas. She returned to Wisconsin to prepare for her forthcoming trip to Texas. She met only with discouragement from her friends, for they had the opinion that Texas was very uncivilized country. On Monday, May 9, 1887, Gelena left Wisconsin for Texas. As the train crossed the Red River into Denison, cowboys bade her welcome to Texas. Gelena arrived in Fort Worth on Thursday and, thinking cowboys were rough and not to be trusted, she hurried to the Pickwick Hotel where she spent the night. The next day she caught the train to Clifton. From Clifton, she engaged a livery to take her to the home of the Rogstad's in Norse where her father and sister Emma were living. On May 17, the anniversary of Norway's independence, Gelena went with the Rogstad's to a picnic on Sugar Loaf Mountain. Gelena recalls the independence day was only celebrated a few more times after that. Later that month, Gelena's younger brother, Oscar John, who was attending Central College at Walnut Springs, came to see her at the Rogstad's. He persuaded her to go back with him. They stayed with their married sister Rangdi who was living near Walnut Springs. When school let, out Gelena and Oscar John went to stay with their uncles near Pottsville in Hamilton County, but in the fall 1887, they went back to Walnut Springs and entered Central College. The following summer (1888), their sister Randy died leaving four children.

In the fall of 1888, Gelena taught at Indian Gap in Hamilton County. She probably stayed at the home of her Uncle T.K. At the close of the school year, she went back to the Rogstad’s home in Norse. While attending a party one hot August night (1889) at the Colwick home, an orchestra came to play for the dancing. One of the young men was John Swenson from Clifton. Music hath charms and soon Johnny's fiddle had won Gelena completely. Theirs was a case of love at first sight, and before they parted, John had promised to send Gelena a fan the very next day. Of course, she had to confide in someone, so she confided in Mrs. Rogstad, but being told that John Swenson had so many other girls, she was not surprised when she went to the post office and there was no fan and no mail. But the gift, and also a love letter, arrived very soon -- both having been missent to Norway Mills. However, they did not meet again until the next fall, when Gelena started teaching at Turkey Creek. In November of 1891, Gelena and John Swenson were married by Rev. J. K. Rystad at the Norse Church. John and Gelena built a new house in Clifton within a year of their marriage. They had six children and all but the first child were born in this house.

John Swenson was working in a store owned by A. Peterson and Chris Grimland when he and Gelena married. John Swenson became a co-investor in this company which was later known as Pierson, Peterson, and Company. In December, 1894, this company declared bankruptcy because of $18,000 in uncollected receivables. As a result of investments in this company, John Swenson filed for personal bankruptcy in March, 1899. John worked for a number of other dry good stores and then went into partnership on a dry good store that he purchased outright in 1907. This store was operated as J.E. Swenson Dry Goods store for over 20 years until uncollectable accounts as a result of the Depression forced a bankrupcy in 1928. John and Gelena spent 1930 and 1931 in Gatesville working with their son-in-law Pat Olsen. They rented their home in Clifton while gone. When they returned to Clifton, John was with a government project for a couple of years making 25¢ per hour. For about 15 years prior to 1952 (when his eyes got bad), he worked as Secretary and bookkeeper in a book store.

John was on the school board, city council, and many civic and church projects. Gelena was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary (being State president about 1994), the Trinity Lutheran Church Ladies Aid, and the Clifton Civic Improvement Society. John died in 1957 and Gelena died in 1960.