Neal Delane Swearingen 1926-2012

SWEARINGEN BRISTOL MEILI

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/16/2012 at 11:40:47

Sioux City Journal
March 11, 2012

Neal D. Swearingen, 85, of Smithland died Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting, Iowa.

Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at United Methodist Church in Hornick, Iowa, with the Revs. Catie Newman and Karen Handke officiating. Burial will be in Willow Township Cemetery at Holly Springs, Iowa. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton, Iowa. The family will be present for visitation with a luncheon Monday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the church. Online condolences can be left for the family at armstrongfuneral.com.

Neal Delane Swearingen was born May 31, 1926, on the Bristol homestead at Sparks, Neb., the son of Arthur LeRoy and Luella Fern (Bristol) Swearingen. He grew up and was educated at Sparks and Valentine, Neb. He worked hard as a cowboy/ranch hand in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. He served in the U.S. Navy for a time in 1944.

On May 19, 1949, Neal was united in marriage to Ione Meili at Valentine, Neb. In 1956, Neal took a job with the Iowa Master Breeders in Carroll, Iowa, and soon accepted a job with Coon Rapids Cream Station at their location in Smithland, Iowa. He operated the creamery in Smithland until he started farming the Jim White place in 1959 and went on to farm the Steinhoff place from 1962 until 1980. Due to health reasons, the couple moved into Smithland, which they continued to call home.

Neal enjoyed fishing, playing cards, especially pitch, coffee with his friends, his two kittens and western movies. Neal became a talented cook and baker, frequently sharing his baked goods with family and friends alike. He was also known for having produced a few good batches of "home brew". Above all, Neal cherished his grandkids and great-grandkids, recognizing that he became progressively more lenient with the younger ones as the years passed.

Those left to cherish their personal memories of Neal are Ione (Meili) Swearingen, his wife of 62 years; three sons and their wives, Boyd and Connie Swearingen of Smithland, Iowa, Bill and Bonnie Swearingen of Leoti, Kan., and Wayne and Jackie Swearingen of Mapleton, Iowa; two daughters, Bethann Bakker and her husband, Verlyn of Sanborn, Iowa, and Dona Swearingen of Moville, Iowa; nieces, Marcee Henrie and her husband, TJ of Washington, Utah, Shelia Stabe and her husband, Bob of Altoona, Wis., and Bernadene Henrie of Anchorage, Alaska; 18 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one sister, Reva Thorpe of Canon City, Colo.; one brother-in-law, Carl Fischer of Buena Vista, Colo.; and one son-in-law, Mike Robson and his wife, Jacie of Wilcox, Ariz.

Neal was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Roger Swearingen; a daughter, Betty Robson; a great-granddaughter, Ariel Robson; three sisters, Chloe Shelbourn, Avis Cady and Mildred Fischer; and one brother, Doug Swearingen.