Obituary of Delores Swanson

Delores Berniece (Philiph) Swanson, the daughter of Arthur and Wilhelmina (Miegel) Philiph, was born on September 20, 1924 in rural Osceola County near May City, Iowa. She was baptized in St. John’s Lutheran Church in May City and was a life-long member. In her early childhood she lived one year in Chicago, IL and one year in Harris, IA. She attended elementary country school in Osceola County, high school in Hartley and Western Union College (Westmar) in LeMars. She taught country school in Allison and Harrison Townships. On June 20, 1944, she was united in marriage to J. Oscar Swanson in May City. To this union four children were born. Following Oscar’s discharge from the Army, they farmed near May City for 27 years. They moved to Spirit Lake in 1971, but after four years returned to May City where they purchased and operated the May City Store and her husband returned to farming. They retired in 1979 and moved to Hartley in 1998. Delores died at the age of 90 years on March 14, 2015 at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa. Delores was active in community affairs. She was chairman of the Osceola County Extension Committee for four years. She also was chairman of the May City Centennial Committee and assisted with the compilation of the “May City Memoirs”. She served on the Advisory Council of NW Iowa Area Aging for 10 years. She was active in the church as a member of the choir, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years, and was a member of St. John’s Ladies Aid wherein she held various office positions throughout the years. She worked as a nurse’s aide and kitchen staff at the Hartley Hospital. She was employed by the Dickinson County Memorial Hospital as an Operating Room Technician after graduating from Des Moines Area Community College in 1969. After her husband’s death, she found great satisfaction and fulfillment working at the Elementary School as a Foster Grandparent for 15 ½ years. Delores is survived by Larron (Cheryl) of Coon Rapids, MN, Lance (Nancy) of Kalispell, MT, Lory (Roger) Gathman and Lanette Bates, both of Hartley, eight grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and ten step-great grandchildren; two sisters, Lorraine Stamer of Livermore, CA and Donna (Wilmer) Tiedemann of May City, nieces, nephews and many other friends and relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 55 years in 1999, one brother-in-law and one niece, mother-in-law and father-in-law and two sisters-in-law. Celebration of Life Delores B. Swanson Born ~ September 20, 1924 Died ~ March 14, 2015 Age ~ 90 years 5 months 24 days Funeral Service 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 19, 2015 St. John's Lutheran Church May City, Iowa Officiating ~ Pastor Neil Wehmas Organist ~ Luella Heilman Congregational Singing Processional ~ "Just As I Am" "Heaven Is My Home" Recessional ~ "How Great Thou Art " Pallbearers Mark Recher Koen Luinstra Lance Swanson, Jr. Jason Noble Ryan Noble Joshua Noble Honorary Pallbearers Angela Williams Melissa Carrick Beth Sweeney Wenda Recher Keri Peterson Ushers Bob Rusche ~ Earl Baish ~ Don Rasmussen Burial Harrison Township Cemetery May City, Iowa <iframe id="tukios_player_512x330" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="https://www.tributeslides.com/videos/embedded_video/B75QG8R7W3ZQP6QY" width="512"></iframe>