Marjorie Swanson
Marjorie Grace Swanson passed away peacefully February 9, 2025 at the Cortland Healthcare Center in Cortland, OH. Funeral Service was held Saturday, February 15 at United Church of Christ in Chamberlain, SD with Rev. Jim Oleson officiating. Interment was in Pukwana Cemetery, Pukwana, SD.
Marjorie Grace Swanson was born March 1, 1934 to Russell Sr. and Myrtle (Caylor) Moline. Marjorie was the second of eight children and the oldest girl. She grew up as a farm girl, helping with the gardening, canning, cooking and other chores involved in taking care of a large family. She loved style and was a very talented seamstress, designing and sewing her clothes. She was also a talented artist with pencil and watercolors.
Marjorie excelled at school, serving as valedictorian of her graduating high school class in Lansing. Because she was tall, she was recruited by the Lansing girls basketball coach in eighth grade to learn how to play basketball. Her father set up a basketball hoop for her to practice with and as a high school freshman, she played as a guard on the first string for the girls basketball team. Marjorie was ranked as one of the top-10 girls basketball guards in the state of Iowa.
Marjorie met her husband, John Swanson, when she came out to South Dakota to visit her cousin, Betty (Moline) Swanson, who was married to John’s brother Walter. The two were married March 12, 1955. John and Marjorie had four children: James, David, Naomi and Ramona. Marjorie and John farmed near Pukwana, SD and were married for 65 years before John’s passing in 2020.
Marjorie continued the things she loved. She sewed exquisite outfits for herself and her children, cooked, gardened, and preserved food. Through the 1960s, she taught Sunday School and was active in church activities at the Pukwana Free Lutheran Church. In 2021, Marjorie moved to Cortland, OH to be by her youngest daughter, Ramona.
Marjorie Swanson is survived by her brothers, Russell (Marlene) Moline, Jr. of Lansing and Robert (Beth) Moline of Genoa, WI; her sisters, Sharon (Lester) Smith of Des Moines and Evelyn (Donald) Nold of Birmingham, AL; her children, James (Kathy) Swanson of Pukwana, SD, David (Becky) Swanson of Pukwana, SD, Naomi Swanson of Cincinnati, OH, and Ramona (Mark Montecalvo) Swanson of Cortland, OH; her grandchildren, Matt (Mardi) Swanson of Pukwana, SD, Jessica (Brad) Krajewski of Sutherland, NE, Mark (Cristina) Swanson of Pukwana, SD and Laura Beth (Russ) Abernathy of Sturgis, SD; and her great-grandchildren, Caleb Swanson, Shelby Swanson, Evan Krajewski, Morgan Krajewski, Melanie Krajewski, Jacob Swanson, Keona Swanson, Charlotte Abernathy and Cameron Abernathy.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Russell Sr. and Myrtle Moline; her husband, John Swanson; her brothers, Roger (Mary Ann) Moline and Richard Moline; her sister, Sue Ann (Terry) Larson; her sister-in-law, Marlene (Russell Jr.) Moline; and her brothers-in-law, Lester (Sharon) Smith and Donald (Evelyn) Nold.
