Myrtle Marie Swanson

Myrtle Marie Swanson, 102, a resident of Moses Lake since 1946, passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at LakeRidge Special Care Center.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at Pioneer Memorial Gardens, Moses Lake, with Pastor Rollin Swanson of the Immanuel Lutheran Church officiating.

Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory, Moses Lake.

Myrtle was born December 10, 1901 to the late James and Olive (Kellogg) Hill in Jefferson, SD. Her younger years were spent helping out on the family farm near Chadron, Neb. and attending school, which involved a six-mile round trip walk each day, regardless of the weather.

As a young adult, she worked as a waitress in Chadron, and often spoke of the fun she had dancing the night away during the "Flapper" era.

She married Lloyd A. Swanson on April 27, 1922 in Albion, Neb. Over the years, they lived in Nebraska, Wyoming and near Bremerton, Wash. before moving to Moses Lake.

Mr. Swanson passed away in 1966.

Myrtle enjoyed raising dogs, cats, chickens and other farm animals, working in her extensive vegetable and flower gardens, canning and baking. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Moses Lake Grange, Hiawatha Valley Sewing Club and the Longview Club.

Survivors include: her two sons, Donald Swanson and wife, Alice of Brewster, Wash. and Raymond Swanson and wife, Gail (Hansen) of San Jose, Calif.; Don's children, Alan, Curtis and Leslie and Ray and Gail's children, Warren, Ann, Sharon, Steven and Kathryn; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, Myrtle was preceded in death by eight sisters, four brothers, two great-grandsons and one granddaughter-in-law.

Memorials may be made to Twila's Adult Family Home, Box 1615, Moses Lake, WA 98837.