Mrs. Fern A. Rose Swanson, age 104, of South Haven died Thursday, September 23, 2004 at Park View Care Center, Buffalo where she has been a resident the past nine years.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 1, 2004 at St. John`s Lutheran Church, Annandale with Rev. David Doppenberg officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to the funeral on Friday at the church.

Fern Alice Rose Swanson was born July 5, 1900 in Genoa to Henry E. and Susie (Hastings) Rose. She graduated from Rochester High School, Winona State Normal School, and received her Bachelor`s and Master`s degrees from St. Cloud State College. She married Walter E. Swanson on June 24, 1928 in St. Paul and he preceded her in death October 13, 1993. She was an educator for 51 years; teaching in Eyota, Appleton, Harmony, Augusta, Waterville, Belgrade, Wisconsin, South Haven, Silver Creek, and Annandale. Fern also was an elementary principal for 25 of those years. She was a member of St. Mark`s Episcopal Church, Corinna Township, Wright County, St. John`s Lutheran Church, Annandale, Minnesota Education Association, Upsilon Chapter Delta Kappa Gamma, Tau State Women of Achievement 1982, Retired Educators Association of Minnesota, Daughters of American Revolution, Lookout Circle, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department President, National Patriotic Instructor, and Junior Vice President of the Rebekah`s for more than 79 years, Royal Neighbors, Wright County Historical Society, Pioneer Park, and Annandale Senior Citizens. Her love of children was part of a Master`s Thesis by Tom Grier of Winona State University in 1997.

Fern is survived by cousins, Phyllis Balzart of Bloomington, Mary Lou (Arvin) Myrdahl of Blaine, Barbara (Robert) Boehmer of Inver Grove Heights; nieces and nephews, Louella Obinger of New Hope, Marjorie Larson of Osseo, Marleen Nelson of Minneapolis, Luella de Malignon of Minneapolis, Charlotte (Henry) Bergerson of Cross Lake, June (Robert) Lee of Sharon, TN, Richard (Betty) Swanson of Orlando, FL, Wallace (Kate) Grier of Huntsville, TX, Rita Grier of Bloomington, and Tom (Jane) Willett of Fergus Falls; and special friend, Vandora Davis of Annandale.

Pallbearers will be Millard Nelson, Allen Weis, Russell Tomlinson, Tom Willett, Roger, and Maynard Nilson. Music for the funeral provided by Orma Lou Jacobsma, and Rev. David Doppenberg.

Arrangements were by Dingmann Funeral Care of Annandale.

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