Raymond G. Swanson

Raymond G. Swanson, age 89, of Dows, passed away Friday January 11, 2013 at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.

Funeral services for Raymond G. Swanson will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday January 15, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Dows. Pastor Kalen Fristad will officiate. Burial will take place in the Graceland Cemetery west of Rowan. Visitation for Raymond G. Swanson will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. Monday January 14, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Dows and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Dugger Funeral Home, 100 North Lee Street in Dows is in charge of arrangements.

Raymond Glen Swanson, son of George and Edith (Jones) Swanson, was born on July 16, 1923 on the home farm south of Rowan, Iowa. He attended country school and graduated high school in Rowan, Iowa. Raymond helped his father on the family farm until January 7, 1949 when he married Betty Hackbarth, the love of his life. They then started farming on their own until their retirement 1988.

To this union came six little angels: Karen and husband Ivan Noelck from Hampton, IA; Virgil and wife Jill (Kelch) from Greenfield, IA; Ruby and husband Larry Rhines from Redwood Falls, MN; Duane and wife Jean (Andersen), from Hampton, IA; Edward and wife Kimberly (Boyington) from Gooddell, IA; and Linda and husband Jon Allen from Hornick, IA.

He enjoyed the great outdoors fishing, trapping, and hunting. He was also an avid card player. After retirement he still loved making things grow and had a large garden. Ray and Betty also loved traveling to places from Alaska to Prince Edward Island to Mexico. They spent twenty winters in Weslaco, Texas. Raymond spent many of those winters helping build homes for the needy in Mexico. Raymond was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and he also enjoyed being a 4-H leader.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Betty, his six children and their spouses, 18 grandchildren: Isreal, Isaac, Jennifer, Angela, Barbara, Jessica, Tracy, Kyle, Wyatt, Cherish, Terri, Amy, Rachel, Nicole, Jamie, Matthew, Sarah, April and their spouses, and 26 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, a brother (Clifford), sister (Mabel), two grandchildren (Tony and Karie) and one great grandchild (Maelani).