Donald Swanson

Funeral Services for Donald L. Swanson will be held on Monday, June 12, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Nora Mendyk officiating. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with Military Honors provided by the United States Army Funeral Honors Team in conjunction with the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 of Holdrege.

Donald Lee Swanson, 86 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at the Harlan County Health System in Alma, Nebraska. He was born May 24, 1931 in Phelps County, Nebraska, the youngest of seven children born to Olaf Sigfred and Alma (Glansberg) Swanson. He received his primary education at a country school in Harlan County and attended high school at Ragan, Nebraska and later graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1948.

Following his graduation, Don enlisted in the United States Army on May 15, 1952 and was stationed in Virginia. He was honorably discharged on May 25, 1954.

On June 17, 1951 he was united in marriage to Verna E. Turner and to this union two sons were born: Stuart and Mark. The family made their home in Furnas County, near Cambridge. In 1957, they moved to a farm north of Loomis, Nebraska and then moved and farmed near Atlanta, Nebraska. In later years, they moved to Holdrege.

Don marketed farm equipment to Canada and Mexico. Don knew no stranger and was always in good humor. He was a member of Holdrege Sod Busters Saddle Club.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Verna in 2010; son, Mark Swanson in 2012; brothers: Howard Swanson and wife, Flo, Warren Swanson and wife, Pat and Rod Swanson; sisters: Dorothy Swanson in childhood, and Lois Ernst and husband, LaVern; brothers-in-law: Everett Hodge, Bob Hock and Harlan Lilyhorn; along with other nieces, nephews and extended family.

Survivors include: his son, Stuart Swanson and Karen of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; granddaughter, Inga Swanson of Holdrege; grandsons: Jeff Swanson and his wife, Sarah of Minden, Nebraska and Cody Swanson of Chappell, Nebraska; three great-grandchildren: Hannah and Chase Swanson and Payne Luebbe; one sister: Margaret Hodge of Holdrege; three sisters-in-law: Norma Hock, Rose Ann Swanson and Mary Louise Lilyhorn, all of Holdrege; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 11, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home with the family greeting from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Don's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.