Raymond Lester Swanson

Raymond Lester Swanson

June 25, 1920 - April 5, 2013

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Raymond Lester Swanson, 92, of North Platte, died Saturday (April 5, 2013), in North Platte.

He was born June 25, 1920, in Genoa, NE to Elmer Frederick and Ethel Anna Marie (Lundgren) Swanson. He was the oldest child and had 13 brothers and sisters.

He married Phyllis Esau on Feb. 26, 1941, in Osceola, Nebraska. He served in the US Army during World War Two in the Pacific.

Theylived on a farm with Vernon and Arlene Swanson near Osceola. After a tornado destroyed the farm, they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he delivered Omar Bread and played baseball. Later they lived in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he owned Swanson TV and Appliance.

After his wife's death in 1966, he married Laura Lee. They became the first house parents at the Nebraska Children's Home in Culbertson, Nebraska. She died from cancer in November 1971.

He then married Donna (Johnson) Hinton Jan. 8, 1972. They lived in Culbertson, Indianola, McCook and Wauneta, Nebraska, where he helped on the Wesley Wheeler ranch (in his retirement from age 62 to 82), and also served as the preacher at Wauneta and Stratton Churches of Christ. They later moved to North Platte, where they have lived the last 10 years.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Elmer and Anna Marie Swanson; nine siblings; and a granddaughter, Rebekah Swanson.

He survived by his wife, Donna (Hinton) Swanson, of North Platte; four siblings, Phyllis Schick, of Columbus,Ohio , Maxine (Joe) Haun, of Polk, Nebraska, Jimmy (Joan) Swanson, of Hordville, Nebraska and Rosalee (Red) Paulson, of McMinnville, Oregon; and his children, Judie (Larry) Brewster of Worland, Wyoming, Jerry (Donna) Swanson of Loveland, Colorado, Rod (Connie) Swanson of Foster City, California, Rona (Sam) Swanson of Visalia, California, Deloit (Carol) Hintonof Pleasonton, California, Bernita (John) Owens of Stockville, Nebraska, Everett (Ann) Hinton of Hastings, Nebraska, Lorraine (Hinton) Herrick of Champion, Nebraska, Laurence (Tamara) of North Platte, Dona (Lahi) Songbandi of Aurora, Colorado and DeAnna (Jerry) Rains of Denver, Colorado.; 29 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren, four great great-grandchildren and the next great great-grandchild due in June.

Funeral services are 2 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2013, at the Church of Christ on Walker Road in North Platte. Burial with military honors will be 11 a.m. Friday in Westlawn Memorial Park in Grand Island. Visitation will be 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore in North Platte.

Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to Nebraska Youth Camp, Mountain States Children's Home or House of Compassion.

Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.