Swanson, Melba Irene 1907-2004

SWANSON, JOHNSON, CARL, GOETZE, LEWIS, SMITH, BURDINE, HARTSELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/12/2013 at 08:42:16

The Montezuma (IA) Republican
Aug. 25, 2004

MELBA I. SWANSON, 96

Melba Irene Swanson,96, of Montezuma, died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 at Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell.

Her funeral service was Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Montezuma United Methodist Church with Pastor Joann Hary officiating. Interment was at Jackson Township Cemetery, Montezuma. Watts Funeral Home of Montezuma was in charge of the arrangements.

Casket bearers were Claire Hays, Dustin Hays, Catherine Swanson, Gunnar Swanson, Jim Noonan, Erin Goetze, Disiree Goetze and Hillery Harvey.

Melba was born Nov. 15, 1907, on a farm near Deep River, the daughter of Henry Fredrick and Anna Lydia (Johnson) Carl. In 1912, the family moved to Montezuma, while a new home was being built on the farm east of Montezuma. Melba graduated from Montezuma High School in 1926 and then attended Penn College in Oskaloosa for one year. She began working for Dave Sutherland at The Montezuma Republican and wrote many articles including the first history of Montezuma. On July 3, 1936, she was united in marriage with Harold Melvin Swanson at Grinnell. In 1939, they moved to their present home, where they raised two children, Christine and Jon. After a few years, Melba began working in the Poweshiek County Treasurer's Auto Department and retired as deputy treasurer in 1969. She was confirmed at the Montezuma United Methodist Church in 1915, where she remained an active member. She had also been a member of Mothers Club, KEN Club and HG Bridge Club. She was an avid reader until her eyesight failed.

Melba is survived by her family, Christine Swanson and husband Duane Goetze of Columbus, Ohio; Jon Swanson and wife Edith Lewis of Ann Arbor, Mich.; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, and other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, on April 7, 1987; three sisters, Alice Smith, Edna Burdine and Esther Hartsell; and three brothers, Henry, age two, Elmer Carl and Cloyd Carl.

A memorial in her name has been established for the Montezuma United Methodist Church, the Montezuma Volunteer Fire Department, or the Dollars for Scholars Foundation.