Lois E Swanson

Funeral Services for Lois E. Swanson will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Dr. W. Kirwan Stewart, Jr. officiating. Interment will be held in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege following the services.

Lois Elva Swanson, 92 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Friday, February 5, 2016 at Christian Homes Care Community. Lois was born September 20, 1923 on the family farm, west of Bertrand in Gosper County, Nebraska, the fourth of six children born to Charles and Edith (Haffner) Beck. She received her education from Bertrand and graduated from Bertrand High School with the class of 1941. She then pursued higher education at the Kearney State Normal College, where she received her teaching credentials. Following her education, Lois taught school in a one-room country school near Bertrand.

She was then employed by the Holdrege Roller Mill, where she would meet the love of her life, Thomas L. Swanson. The couple were united in marriage on August 21, 1946 in a double wedding ceremony with Tom's cousin at Phillipsburg, Kansas. To this union two children were born: Tamara Iva and Suzanne Echo. The family made their home on a farm north of Holdrege, where they engaged in farming and Lois focused her efforts on raising their children. Lois was also employed by the Phelps County Courthouse as the Deputy County Clerk until her retirement at the age of 82, following 40+ years of service.

Lois loved the time spent on the farm, she enjoyed watching and feeding birds and had a special place in her heart for her cats. She was very proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and especially enjoyed attending their events. She loved to go out to eat with her family and since June 19, 2008, when she lost her husband, Tom; she longed to be reunited with him in Heaven.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, where she taught Sunday school, was active with the Eagles Club, where she served on the Ritual Team and the Auxiliary, was a 4-H leader and was active with the Phelps County Extension Office for many years.

Besides her husband, Tom, and her parents; Lois was preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Walfred and Elizabeth (Davidson) Swanson; son-in-law, Roger May; three brothers: Neal Beck and his wife, Lu, Kenneth Beck and Alton Beck and his wife, Charlene; two sisters: Josephine McNeely and her husband, Vic and Alma Schiro and her husband, Tony; sister-in-law, Clara Wells and her husband, Harley; and brother-in-law, Art Swanson.

She leaves to celebrate her life; her two children: Tammy May and Suzanne Lindsay both of Holdrege; three grandchildren: Tom May and his wife, Amy of Holdrege, Travis Lindsay and his significant other, Tina Seyler both of Wilcox, Nebraska and Pepper May of Kearney, Nebraska; ten great-grandchildren: Patrick, Ashton, Mitchell, and Marcus May, Cole and Lainee Lindsay, Jasper and Atreyu May, and Delaney and Parker Seyler; two sisters-in-law: Donna Beck of Kearney and Helen Swanson of Holdrege; and a host of many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson- Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Lois' 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.