Obituary
Robert W. Swanson passed away on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Oakland Park Communities in Thief River Falls, MN at the age of 75 years, 11 months, and 24 days.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 5, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Ale Tulu officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM, with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN, and also from 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM on Friday at the church.
Robert "Bob" Swanson was born on August 6, 1935 in Thief River Falls, MN, the son of Richard and Pearl (Anderson) Swanson. He was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church in St. Hilaire, MN. Bob attended country school, grade school in St. Hilaire, and high school at Lincoln High School, graduating in 1953.
Following high school, while Bob was attending a year of vocational school, he also enlisted with the Minnesota National Guard, serving a total of nine years. During this time he worked construction, and eventually went to work for Lens Tire Service as a front-end technician.
One of Bob's pastimes included playing the accordion. He played regularly at the A & B Café in Plummer, MN. It was there that he met Marie Schiefert, the daughter of the couple that owned the café. The two quickly fell in love and were united in marriage on June 29, 1959 in Plummer.
Bob and Marie were blessed with five children: Kent, Rob, Bruce, Jill, and Tracy. The family made their home in and around the Thief River Falls area and in April of 1970, bought a farm in Smiley Township where they farmed small grains. In 2005, Bob and Marie retired, sold their farm and moved into Thief River Falls.
While Bob loved playing the accordion for many area dances, he also enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling. Bob will be remembered as a hard-working man with a great love for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Marie of Thief River Falls, MN; children, Kent Swanson of Erskine, MN, Rob (Kim) Swanson of Thief River Falls, MN, Bruce (Rhonda) Swanson of Thief River Falls, MN, Jill (Mark) Theis of Glyndon, MN, and Tracy Swanson-Kriel of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren, Jamie (David) Hendrum of Thief River Falls, MN, Julie and Kelsey Swanson of Thief River Falls, MN, Lindsey (Josh) Brown of Grand Forks, ND, Dale (fiancé Jennifer Hayden) Swanson of Thief River Falls, MN, Brittany (Nate) Shubert of Bloomington, MN, Chelsey Swanson of St. Louis Park, MN, Andrew Theis of Glyndon, MN, Amber Swanson of Thief River Falls, MN, Brea Swanson of Moorhead, MN, Nolyn Vatnsdal of Thief River Falls, MN; step-grandchildren, Alesha Franks of Sioux Falls, SD, Amanda and Angela Franks of Fargo, ND; great-grandchildren, Stetson and Lillian Brown, and Owen Hayden; brother, Loren Swanson of St. Hilaire, MN, and many cousins, relatives, and friends.
Preceding him in death are his parents; brother, Richard Swanson Jr.
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