Harold Swanson, 77, died on Friday, December 19, 2003 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Reverend Mark Helgeland officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Monday, December 22, 2003 at the Johnson-Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls, MN with a 7:00 P.M. prayer service on Monday evening and at the church for one hour prior to services on Tuesday.

Harold Lloyd Swanson was born on April 9, 1926 in Thief River Falls, MN, the son of Enoch and Cora (Amble) Swanson. He was baptized and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church. He attended school in St. Hilaire. Harold worked with his dad on the farm until he started working in town. He was employed at L. B. Hartz Warehouse for 41 years where he did various jobs.

Harold was united in marriage to Betty E. Hoard on June 26, 1947 at First Lutheran Church.

He was a hard worker all his life, loved vegetable gardening, farm animals, hunting, going to auction sales and playing cards. He was a handyman and did carpentry, electrical wiring, repaired cars, restored antique cars, woodworking and especially loved entertaining and teasing his grandchildren. He made a sawmill and cut lumber from logs to build their first home.

Harold is survived by his wife, Betty; one son, Mark H. (Annette) Swanson of Thief River Falls, MN; six daughters: Susan (Al) Buhl, Wendy (Tom) Goddard and Cory (Randy) Jorde, all of Thief River Falls, MN, Julie (Dan) Sullivan of Moorhead, MN, Jodell Usitalo (special friend Rick Dessellier) of Lake Linden, MI and Nancy (James) Thompson of Chandler, AZ; 20 grandchildren: Kara Balmer, Mathew and Toni LeMoine, Adam and Michael Swanson, Ben, Shannon and Sarah Sullivan, Kristine Goddard-Anderson, Elizabeth Goddard, Katie, Samantha and Mikkel Jorde, Taylor and Lindsey Usitalo, Joby and Jason Thompson, and step grandchildren, Justin, Jennifer and Tyler Buhl; 4 great grandchildren: Whitney, Hunter and Kobe Balmer and Ann Kelley Swanson; one sister, Marie Erickson of Thief River Falls, MN; one brother-in-law, Alvin Wold of Thief River Falls, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Michael John Swanson; one sister, Pearl Wold; brother-in-law, Randall Erickson.