SWANSON, Richard Anthony, Rev. 1934-2009

SWANSON, ROSS

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 5/31/2010 at 12:42:27

[Waterloo Courier, Wednesday, November 11, 2009]

Waterloo - Richard “Dick” Swanson, 75, of Waterloo, died Sunday afternoon, Nov, 8, 2009, at Allen Hospital in Waterloo.

A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at First Congregational Church of Waterloo. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Dick Swanson Memorial Fund, c/o First Congregational Church, Waterloo. This fund will be used to further the mission work at the Kako Retreat Center in Russian Mission, Alaska.

Dick Swanson was born in Medford, Mass., to Harold and Helen Swanson on Aug. 11, 1934. Both a musician and mechanic, he attended Providence Bible College, Boston. He and Ruth (Ross) married Sept. 1, 1954. In 1964, Dick graduated from Bible Baptist Seminary in Arlington, Texas, and was ordained into the ministry. Dick, along with Ruth and their first three children Katrina, Eric and Paul, moved to Alaska in 1965 as a missionary with World Baptist Fellowship. Shortly after son Carl’s birth, they moved to the village of Russian Mission on the Yukon River. Over the next 14 years they worked with the Eskimo people in a variety of villages throughout western Alaska. His abilities as mission pilot allowed the means for travel. Beginning in 1979, his ministry took him to pastor churches in Manitoba, Ontario, California and West Virginia.

Dick and Ruth retired to Waterloo in 1997 where they have been active in several churches and currently attend First Congregational of Waterloo.

Dick was passionate about music, flying, his family and his faith. Dick also was active in prison ministries wherever he lived.

Dick is survived by his wife, Ruth; children, Katrina (Otto), Eric, Paul and Carl; and grandchildren, Paul David, Ben, Kristen, Kimberly and Brian.

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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