Winona M. Swift

Funeral Services for Winona M. "Winnie" Swift will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. with Reverend Buck Linton-Hindrick, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Winona Mae "Winnie" Swift, 72 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, September 16, 2007 at her home in Holdrege. Winnie was born July 9, 1935 at Campbell, Nebraska, the daughter of Lester and Leona (Kumke) Rippen. At a young age her mother passed away and Winnie was raised by her Aunt Nora and Uncle Armond L'Heureux in Campbell. She received her education from Campbell, graduating from Campbell High School with the class of 1952. While in high school she would meet her future husband at a football game. On May 29, 1955 she was united in marriage to Robert Lawrence Swift and to this union five children were born: Ruth, Mary, Joe, Cristy and Helen. The family made their home in Holdrege, where Winnie focused her efforts on raising their children and was also employed as a Certified Nurses Aide at Methodist Memorial Homes until her retirement. On May 10, 1993 she was preceded in death by her husband, Bob.

Winnie enjoyed tending to her garden, embroidery, playing bingo, was an avid Cubs and Husker Fan and loved spending time with her family. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, where she made many friendship bonds being part of the Sarah Circle.

She leaves to mourn her passing her five children: Ruth Brown and her husband, Steve of Kearney, Mary Wideman of Thornton, Colorado, Joe Swift and his wife, Mary of Aurora, Nebraska, Cristy Wright and her husband, Bill of Little Sioux, Iowa and Helen McClain and her husband, Steven of Holdrege; sixteen grandchildren: Shane Culp and his wife, Nichole and Jana Culp, Sara and Alex Brown, Cathy, Nicol, Ricky and James Wideman, Daniel Swift, Laura Robison, James, Robert and Cody Wright, Jonathan McClain and his wife, Misty and Ryan and Zackery McClain; eight great-grandchildren; step-mother, Martha Rippen of Omaha; one sister, Lois Westfall and her husband, Dan of Omaha; one brother, Roger Rippen and his wife, Shelly of Overland Park, Kansas; special family friend, Cleora McPhillamy of Holdrege and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her biological and adopted parents and brother, Ray Rippen.

Winnie will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory.

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.