Gussie
(August) Swanson, 92
Lake
Bronson - Gussie (August) Magnus Swanson, 92,
died on Saturday, September 20, 2003 at Northwest
Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral
services were held on Tuesday, September 23 at
Evangelical Covenant Church in Kennedy with
daughter Gloria Swanson, son-in-law Don Knudson and
grandson Mark Ellingson officiating. Casketbearers
were Gussie's grandsons. Honorary casketbearers
were his many friends. Interment was in Riverside
Cemetery in Lake Bronson.
Gussie
was born on December 10, 1910 in McKinley Township,
the son of Magnus and Mathea Swenson. He attended
school at the Lindquist Schools, Lancaster Public
School and the Center Grove School. Following his
completion of the eighth grade, he began working
with his uncle Gust on the Swenson farm, as well as
for other area farmers.
On
December 10, 1936, he married Birdella "Babe"
Clauson in St. Paul. The couple lived in St. Paul
for a short time before moving to Jupiter Township
and Lake Bronson. From 1941 to 1945, Gussie worked
as a mechanic for the Farmer's Union in Lake
Bronson. In 1945, he went to the Danielson Garage,
where he started his self-taught career in the auto
body shop. He retired from Danielson's in 1975.
Gussie also worked at the Lake Bronson State Park
for many years, beginning in 1949. On his 80th
birthday, he retired as a U.S. substitute rural
mail carrier.
Gussie
was a member of the former Community Covenant
Church in Lake Bronson for 50 years, where he
served as a trustee. He spent endless hours mowing
the church and parsonage lawns, as well as
completing the tasks he saw needed to be done
around the church. Upon his retirement, Gussie and
his wife were foster parents for Kittson County. He
visited with people in the county's nursing homes
and delivered mail and ran errands for some of the
senior citizens within the community. He was a
volunteer fireman for many years. He was an avid
Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan, as well as a
champion whist and cribbage player. He enjoyed
visiting his friends at the post office and Cenex
in Lake Bronson.
Survivors
include his daughters, Darlynn Joy (Dennis)
Ellingson of Bloomington, Sharon Lee (David)
Lindstrom of Anoka, Gloria Swanson (Don Knudson) of
Rosemount and Kathy (Bruce) Engstrom of Lancaster;
11 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 14
great-grandchildren; nine step great-grandchildren;
sisters-in-law, Frances Mattson, Leatrice Cooper,
Bev Clauson and Angeline Clauson; brother-in-law,
Vincent Clauson; and many nieces, nephews, cousins,
other relatives and friends.
Gussie
was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a
brother, Melvin Peterson; sisters, Signe Bergman,
Eppie Knutson, Ida Haugen, Annie Johnson and Emma
Olson Larson. A00003B2003OT01
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