Verne Leonard Swanson

Verne L. Swanson, 75, of Crooks passed away peacefully Friday, December 22, 2006 at Sioux Valley Hospital. Memorial services will begin at 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at West Nidaros Lutheran Church, rural Crooks. Burial will precede the services in the West Nidaros Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic is in charge of arrangements.

Verne was born on September 29, 1931 to Oliver and Emma Hetland Swanson in the farm house where they lived near Montrose, South Dakota. He was baptized at St. Peter Church near Orland and attended Ramsey Country School #3 through the fourth grade. His family then moved to the farm he grew up on near Colton, South Dakota. He completed 5th grade in Lyons Public School and continued there until he graduated from Lyons High School in 1949.

After serving his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952 to 1954, he married his sweetheart, Marilyn Brendsel, on June 2, 1954. They began farming and raising their family on a farm near Lyons, South Dakota, living in a small shack with their four oldest children. Nine years after graduation from high school, Verne decided to resume his education and enrolled at Augustana College while he continued farming. He graduated in 1962 with honors in business, economics, and math. Many mornings he would get up before dawn to heat the kitchen with the open oven. He would then eat breakfast before attending classes and return home to the farm to support his family.

Verne was very independent, self-reliant, and forward thinking. After moving to the farmhouse near Crooks, S.D. where he resided since 1963, he continued his passion in farming, running the farm as a business with foresight and management skills that allowed growth and innovation to sustain a profitable business during a challenging time for farmers. He was one of the first in the area to build a large volume hog breeding facility and a grain handling system that could be seen for miles. It was also during this time that his family was completed with the births of his two youngest daughters.

Verne was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He tried to attend as many of his children’s extra-curricular events as he was able to, and was always supportive of their activities. His grandchildren loved him, and often ran to jump into his lap shouting “Grandpa!” when they saw him, and he loved teasing and playing with them. Even with failing health, he chauffeured family and friends to doctor’s appointments on a regular basis, to run errands, or to buy groceries, and always did so with a smile.

Although plagued with health problems for many years, Verne never felt sorry for himself. He was the recipient of a liver transplant on December 25, 1992 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. After suffering a massive heart attack in 1998, he continued to remain as active as his health would allow, doing what he enjoyed most -- farming. Verne was never one to complain and always showed optimism in everything he did. In fact, shortly before his death and in spite of rapidly deteriorating health, he had ordered a new tractor which he never had the opportunity to see or drive. He was also eagerly planning a trip to Disneyworld in February for his entire family of 26 people.

Verne was known for his friendliness, dry sense of humor, and humility. He never boasted of his accomplishments and, in fact, downplayed them, giving credit to others when it was due him. He had a large circle of friends, among them a special group of coffee buddies whom he would meet daily at the crack of dawn for breakfast and conversation.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Marilyn; six children, Tanna Swanson, Dell Rapids, SD; Sonja Swanson (Richard Peasley), Elk Point, SD; Todd Swanson, Las Vegas, NV; Scott Swanson (Kris), Crooks, SD; Kara Swanson (Tom Wenzel), Sioux Falls, SD; Laura Swanson (Chad Weinacht), Colton, SD; 14 grandchildren, Sara and Annie Peasley; Taylor, Adam, Kelsey, and Audrey Swanson; Olivia, Levi, and Lane Swanson; Megan and Madelyn Wenzel; and Allison, Lucas, and Abbie Weinacht; one sister, Marjorie (Dan) Bergeland, Duluth, MN; an aunt, Marian Swanson Schmidt Williams (Don), Rapid City, SD; an uncle, Arthur Swanson, Freeport, Florida; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Verne was preceded in death by his parents. Blessed be his memory. The obituary may be viewed online at www.minnehahafuneralhome.com