1923 – Charles Vernon Swan – 2018
Charles Swan, the son of Charles “Charlie” and Edith (Hokanson) Swan, was born on March 16, 1923 in Slayton, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm near Lake Sarah and attended District 89 Country School in Lake Sarah Township. Upon completion of the eighth grade, Charles farmed with his father and raised corn, soybeans, grain, cattle and hogs. Charles was united in marriage to Eunice N. Nelson, a farm girl from Garvin, Minnesota, on June 16, 1946 at Hoiland Lutheran Church in rural Garvin. Charles’ parents then built and moved into a new home on the farmstead with their daughter, Lola. Eunice and Charles were married over 60 years when Eunice passed away in June of 2006. He moved to the Westside Apartments in Slayton in August of 2016. In February of 2017, he became a resident of the Slayton Rehabilitation and Heath Care Center. On April 25, 2018 he entered Hospice there and passed away on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the age of 95. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton, where he served as a board member, Sunday School Teacher and served on numerous committees. Charles’ faith in God and service to his church were the center of his life. The light of Christ shone through in all of Charles’ work and in the way he treated everyone. He also served as a Lake Sarah Township officer for 28 years. He served a term as Murray County Farm Bureau President, during which he traveled to Washington, DC to represent county farmers. Charles also served several terms as an officer in the Lake Sarah Farm Bureau. He farmed and raised livestock until the age of 77. He had a special passion for cattle and so enjoyed receiving on his farm the feeder cattle he purchased from western South Dakota ranches and then feeding his farm grown crops. He always said that farmers are stewards of the land, and he believed that God created farmers to be caretakers of the earth. Charles deeply loved and treasured his family and friends. He was a nice, good, gentle, caring man. Charles Vernon Swan will be cherished forever. Blessed be his memory.
Survivors include his two sons: Charles “Chuck” (Maggie) Swan, Chantillly, VA and Bruce (Taeko) Swan, Sioux Falls, SD; seven grandchildren: Tonya (Chad) Rotert, Nathan (Mayaan) Swan, Sheldon (Emily) Swan, Adam (Debbie) Flores, Sarah (Benjamin) Moran, Kathryn Swan and Courtney Swan; three great-grandchildren: Natalie Rotert, Isabella Rotert and Harrison Moran; and brother-in-law Neil (Sharon) Nelson, Green Valley, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and a brother-in-law Lola (Henry) Rambosky.
Funeral services at Christ Lutheran Church Slayton, MN at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 with Rev. Dawn Quame officiating. The pallbearers are Douglas Swan, Dennis Opdahl, Chad Rotert, Chad Estebo, Bob Moline, Jim Moline, Sheldon Swan and John Knese. Honorary pallbearers are Dennis Swan, Daryl Swan, Donald Swan, Jerry Moline, Harris Swan, Curt Hokanson, David Nelson, and Neil Nelson. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton, MN. Visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. The Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton is assisting the family with arrangements. Send condolences online at www.totzkefuneralhome.com.
