Robert Swanson

Published 12:00 am Monday, September 22, 2008

Robert N. Swanson, 89
Robert Neil Swanson, 89, of Austin died on Sept. 19, 2008 at Fieldcrest Care Center, Hayfield. He was born June 22, 1919 to John and Sannie (Trowbridge) Swanson in Ottertail County, Minn. He married Sara Saumweber on Dec. 31, 1944 in Fargo, N.D. Robert attended St. Paul Bible Institute and became an ordained pastor. He also worked in the postal service. They made their home in Detroit Lakes; St. Peter; Jackson Hole, Wyo. and Thermopolis, Wyo. before moving to Austin in 2001. They were members of Faith Evangelical Free Church in Austin.
Survivors include his wife, Sara; three daughters, Kathleen (Vernon) Lewis, Austin; Rebecca Swanson, Glendora, Calif., Mary Kay (William) Ernst, Oak Grove; five grandchildren, Ramona Colee, Andrea Lewis, Rebekah Sundberg, Laurie Brown and Joshua Ernst; three great-grandchildren; sister, Mayme Peterson, Minneapolis, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008 at Faith Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Mike Sager officiating. Friends may greet the family from 10 – 11 a.m. at the church. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is in charge of arrangements. Interment is at Lake Eunice Free Cemetery in Detroit Lakes.