Lois
Swanson, 80
Goodridge - Lois Swanson, died Friday, January 7, 2000 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral se rvices were held at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 10 at Faith Lutheran Church in Goodridge with Reverend Robert Dahlen officiating. Margie Iverson was the organist, the vocalists were Rev. Robert Dahlen and Laura Knutson.
Casketbearers were Chadwyn Knutson, Shelly Hughes, William Benedict, Kimberly Pietila, Heidi Zimmerman, Kari Swanson, Christopher Knutson, Tim Benedict, Karen Pietila, John R. Pietila, Shannon Zimmerman, Aaron Swanson, Sheri Hofstad, Teresa Levinson, Kathryn Jensen, Amy Zimmerman, Joshua Zimmerman and Michael Swanson. Interment was in the Goodridge Cemetery in Goodridge township of Pennington county. The Green Funeral Home of Thief River Falls was in charge of the arrangements.
Lois Faye Jones was born on December 7, 1919 at Agenda, KS, the daughter of George and Bertha (Teagarden) Jones. She attended schools in Kansas, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In 1936 the family moved to Goodridge where she graduated from Goodridge High School in 1938. After graduation she did practical nursing in the Goodridge area.
On November 29, 1939 she was united in marriage to Ernest Swanson at the Lutheran parsonage in Thief River Falls. Rev. Tungseth officiated at the ceremony with Ernie's brother John and Lois' sister Gail as attendants. The couple farmed the Swanson homestead in Section 3 of Highlanding township of Pennington county from 1940 until 1985 when they sold the homestead to their son Alan.
Lois enjoyed flowers and gardening and at one time had over 100 African violets growing under lights in an upstairs bedroom. She was a member of the Minnesota African Violet Association and served as a state officer for several years.
She was very active in developing the Goodridge Area Historical Society and was instrumental in editing and compiling information for the Pennington county history book. In 1975 the Swansons were honored at the Red River Valley Winter Shows as Pennington County's Valley Farmer and Homemaker. Lois was also a member of the Deer Park Garden Club and Star Homemakers, holding offices in both organizations. She served as a 4-H leader for several years and was a strong supporter of the 4-H program.
She was baptized as an adult at First Lutheran Church at Goodridge where she was very active as a Sunday school teacher and member of the ALCW where she held several offices.
Lois is survived by her husband, Ernest; three daughters, Sharon (Royal) Knutson, Anita (John) Pietila and Linda (Mickey) Zimmerman; two sons, Lowell (Nancy) and Alan (Deb); 21 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three sisters, Carol (Roy) Anderson of Goodridge, Gail Brunston of San Diego, CA and Wanda (Reed) Wienberg of Clarksville, IA; three brothers, Harland (Marie) Jones of Ft. Smith, AR, Arthur (Evie) Jones of Rochester, NY and Clair (Allena) Jones of Boerne, TX; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters and one brother. A00003B2000JA12