Herbert Swanson

SWANSON, MONSON, WILSON, BOWLSBY, PETERSON, JOHNSON, NORDBLOM, LIND, BOTTORFF, FORSLUND, GUSTAFSON, HANSON, ANDERSON, GREENFIELD, SCHILL, LINGWALL

Posted By: Nathan Lingwall (email)
Date: 9/22/2007 at 15:46:11

Services Held for Herbert Swanson

Harcourt - Funeral services for Herbert Swanson, 69, well-known farmer of the Paton-Boxholm community, who died suddenly Tuesday, September 14, (1954), were held Friday, Sept. 17, at the Harcourt Methodist church.
The Rev. Glenn Squires of the Harcourt church officiated at the rites. Burial was in the Boxholm cemetery.
Very active in community affairs, Mr. Swanson, at the time of his death, was serving as chairman of the Harcourt Methodist church board.
During the services music furnished by a male quartet of Herbert's relatives - Dick Bowlsby, Walter Peterson, Ray Johnson and C.V. Nordblom. The flower committeee was Mesdames Clinton Lind, Rex Bottorff and M.W. Forslund. Pallbearers were Harold Peterson, Clyde Gustafson, Paul Hanson, Norman Anderson, Peter Greenfield and Nels Schill.
Charles Herbert Swanson, eldest son of Charles August and Hulda Monson Swanson, was born March 17, 1885 on a farm two miles south of Harcourt and died September 14, 1954 at the age of sixty-nine years, five months and twenty seven days at his farm northwest of Boxholm.
His boyhood and young manhood years were spent at his parental home assisting in the farm operations.
He was educated in the public schools and received further training at Tobin College in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
He joined the Methodist Church from preparatory membership on August 2, 1908 and has continued in active and loyal relationship with his Lord and with the church. He has faithfully served the church in almost every capacity of human service, and almost continuously in some official capacity. He was active in the Epworth League (the Methodist Youth Fellowship), the Sunday school for many years as its superintendent; on committees of the church , and for many years a member of the official board. At the time of his death he was president of the Board of Trustees. He was unusually faithful in church attendance. Your pastor and very many of our church fold saw him in that familiar relationship for the final appearance only last Sunday morning, Sept. 12. Surely our Heavenly Father has said unto him, "Well done good and faithful servant" - "thou has been faithful in a few things," - "I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Herbert Swanson has served well his home, his community, his God and his church.
It is impossible to properly evaluate the life of one who has so well and continuously served his day as a full-time laborer in the vineyard of our Lord Christ.
His death brings an inestimable loss to his wife, Agnes, and all his people and friends. It can well be said of him, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course," - "there is for me a crown of righteousness."
Herbert's farming for himself began with a partnership with Walter Anderson on a farm northeast of Harcourt.
From 1919 to 1929 he was engaged in the Hardware business with his cousin C.V. Nordblom, in Harcourt. It was during that period that he was active in civic affairs. He was a member of the town council and a member of the board of education.
He resumed farming again two miles south of Harcourt.
He was untied in marriage to Miss Agnes Wilson on May 25, 1930 at the Methodist church in Boxholm. In March 1933 they moved to the farm northwest of Boxholm which they later purchased and which has since been their home, a home beautiful.
Herbert died very suddenly, September 14, 1954 about 5:30 p.m. as his corn shelling job was about completed. His death was a terrific shock to all of us and especially his wife and other relatives and friends.
His going leaves all of us very much aware of a great service so well rendered by one person in a life time.
He is survived by his wife; five brothers and one sister, the Rev. Lawrence Swanson, Salem, Ore.; Lloyd Swanson, Chicago; Elmer Swanson, Muscatine; Oscar Swanson, Wesley Swanson and Mrs. WIlliam Lingwall, all of Harcourt.