Swift, Burton "Lefty" Pershing 1918 - 2008

SWIFT, NELSON, ANDERSON

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/7/2010 at 22:16:52

Burton "Lefty" Swift

Date of Death
Friday, May 09, 2008

Akron, IA

Burton “Lefty” Swift, 89, of Akron, Iowa, passed away Friday, May 9, 2008 at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Akron. Reverend Dawn Quame will officiate. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Akron, Iowa with military rites conducted by Hoschler American Legion Post 186 of Akron and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 915 of Elk Point, SD. Visitations will be after 3:00 p.m. Monday, May 12, 2008, with the family present after 6:00 p.m., and a Prayer service at 7:00 p.m., all at Carlsen Funeral Home – Schroeder Chapel in Akron. Visitation will resume 1 hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church.

Burton Pershing Swift was born May 26, 1918 in Akron, Iowa, the son of LaVerne and Selma (Nelson) Swift. He attended school in Akron and graduated from Akron High School. It was during that time that Lefty’s talent of baseball was born. Following high school Lefty started playing for the Sioux City Cowboys and worked his way up the minor league ranks until reaching the majors. He was a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.

He was united in marriage to Arlene Anderson on March 9, 1940 in South Sioux City, Nebraska.

In 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army. He served his country during WWII. He was stationed overseas in Germany serving in the European Theatre battleground. For his service to his country, he was awarded 2 Bronze stars. After his discharge, he returned to the states and continued playing baseball for a few years until retiring and moving back to Akron.

Lefty worked construction for a few years before going to work for the Iowa Department of Transportation. He retired from there after 25 years of service.

Lefty was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hoschler American Legion Post 186 of Akron, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 915 of Elk Point, SD. Lefty’s love of the game of baseball carried over to many kids, he enjoyed watching them play at any time. He also enjoyed gardening, golfing, and mowing his yard. He loved driving around Akron and going to Sheveland’s welding shop. He will be greatly missed by many.

Survivors include his wife of over 68 years, Arlene of Akron; a son: Buck Swift and his wife Elaine of Akron and their children, Bob Swift and his wife Mary Beth of Waconia, MN, and their children, Jerad, Hannah, and Gabrielle, Kim Nagle and her husband Patrick of Las Vegas, NV and their children, Sam and Megan, Malinda Harvey and her husband Mike of Akron and their children, Jessica, Amanda, and Aaron, Tammy Coyle and her husband Dana of Russell, MN, and their children, Tanner and Joey, and Tim Caskey and his wife Sandy of Sioux City and their son, Josh; a daughter: Sally Miller and her husband Tom of Akron, and their children, Chris Harvey and her husband Brad of Akron and their children, Kelsie, Marissa, Monica, and Natalie, and Jim Miller and his wife Lesa of Omaha, NE and their children, Kyle, and Brooke Engel and her husband Marcus of Columbus, GA; a daughter: Suzie Rozell and her husband Dave of Akron, and their children, Josh Rozell and his fiancé Michele of Sioux Falls, SD, and Jeff Rozell and Andrea of Westfield, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Barney Swift and Charles Swift; two sisters: Lois Swift Klemme and Genevieve Swift Earner; and two nephews, Larry Swift and Scott Swift.

Source: Carlsen Funeral Home
Akron, Iowa