Evelyn K. Swanson, 98

Evelyn K. (Kenall) Swanson, Jan. 6, 1915 - Jan. 11, 2013. Evelyn K. Swanson, age 98, of Ellsworth died Friday, Jan. 11, at the River Falls Hospital.

Evelyn, the daughter of Charles F. and Hulda M. (Swanson) Kenall, was born on Jan. 6, 1915, in the town of Hartland, Pierce County, Wis. She attended Ellsworth High School and graduated May 1933. She attended the Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, studying business, and graduated June 1934. She then attended nurses training at Swedish Hospital, Minneapolis, and graduated upon completion of the course in 1936. She worked at a Minneapolis hospital on the floors from approx. 1936-1939 before becoming quite sick and having to take a 1-year leave. She met and was engaged to Kenneth L. Swanson, who was practicing law with the late Irwin Magee in Ellsworth. She worked at St. Croixdale (private hospital in Prescott) from 1940 to 1943. In early 1941, Evelyn decided to join the WAVES; she was accepted and traveled to New York. She took her training at Hunter College, New York City, the only woman along with 11 other sailors in her class. She saw duty in Long Island, N.Y., and then at Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, Va. She served as a pharmacist's mate third class until August 1945. She married Kenneth May 12, 1945, while on leave at English Lutheran Church, Ellsworth. After her discharge in 1945, she and Ken lived in Baltimore, where she worked for the State of Maryland employment office for about a year until Ken's discharge. They moved back to Ellsworth where Ken started his own law practice in 1946. She then stayed home to be a loving wife and mother to her family but stayed active in many community and church organizations and projects over the years.

Evelyn enjoyed a wide variety of interest over the years and enjoyed traveling with Ken on many trips and vacations, especially in the New England states. She was an avid member of the English Lutheran Church over this time and enjoyed her time and relationship with many different pastors, organizations, and the congregations she was privileged to be a part of. She enjoyed her home, the outdoors, gardening, and her flower gardens.

She is survived by her son Van Warren Swanson, Mondovi; her sister, Margery (Kennal) Lemke, Bennett, Colo.; five grandchildren, Jeremy Swanson, Amy (Swanson) Lampert, Matthew (Kandis) Swanson Sr., Jeffrey Swanson, and Carrie Swanson; and seven great-grandchildren. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by husband Kenneth L. Swanson (1981); her son Lee W. Swanson (2001); great-grandson Jeffrey Wayne Swanson (2012); and seven brothers and two sisters.

A funeral service will be held for Evelyn at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the English Lutheran Church in Ellsworth. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Svea Lutheran Cemetery.

Go to www.hillfuneralservice.com to send an online condolence to the family. Hill Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ellsworth, is serving the family.

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