John Swanson

John Arthur Swanson Jr., 82, of Pendroy died Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013 at the Teton Nursing Home. He was born on Sept. 12, 1931, in Great Falls, Montana to John and Ethel Swanson, long term residents of the area.



John attended grade-school at the Pendroy Elementary, then middle school in Palo Alto, California where his big sister Christie Alice (Field) was attending Stanford University. He then returned home for high school where he played football for the Choteau Bulldogs and graduated in 1949. He went on to college at Stanford as well, until the Army called for his services during the Korean War. On June 22, 1953, John married the love of his life, Marjorie A. Barton, whom he had known from high school in Choteau. The couple made their first home in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he was stationed. Here they started their family with the birth of their son Scott. After his discharge, and finishing college in Missoula, they returned to Pendroy in 1955 when he joined the J.A. Swanson Agency insurance and real estate business which his father had established in 1933. Two daughters, Carolyn and Paula, soon followed and the family was well-established in Pendroy. John eventually took the reins of the Pendroy operations of the business while his brother-in-law managed the Choteau end. John retired from the business in 1991, and he and Marge, became snow-birds and spent many happy winters in Arizona. In 2003 they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary.



John served for many years as the Treasurer for both the Pendroy Methodist Church and The Pendroy Elementary School. In 1965, he founded the Pendroy Invitational Track Meet (P.I.T) to provide a chance for rural students to experience the athletic activities which he had always enjoyed. The P.I.T. event continues to the present day and this spring's meet will be dedicated to his memory.



He was known by many as "The Mayor of Pendroy" and all who knew him will miss his sense of humor and his knack for gentle teasing. He was an excellent golfer. In 1958 he won the Choteau Invitational tournament and treasured that particular trophy, the first of many, until the day he died. He was also fond of ping pong and 8-ball.



Survivors include three children: Scott (Laura) Swanson of Pendroy, Carolyn (Dan) Rogers of Choteau, and Paula (Robert) Jackowski of Valparaiso, Indiana; eight grandchildren, Norse (Jesica) Swanson of Lakeside, Ilsa (Jon) Taggart of Kalispell, Greta (Sam) Hensler of Bozeman, Freyja (Scott) Raznoff of Fort Collins, Colorado, Bjorn Swanson of Conrad, Patrick (Jennifer) Rogers of Woodinville, Washington, Amy (Eric) Rosenbaum of Clancy, and Nate (Jennifer) Rogers of Hayden, Idaho; and twelve great-grandchildren, Boden and Isley Swanson of Lakeside, Kyron, Ramina and Pendroy J.A. Taggart of Kalispell, Ava Raznoff of Fort Collin, Jackson Rogers of Woodinville, Alise, Abby, Emme, and Aubrey Rosenbaum of Clancy, and Thoran Rogers of Hayden.



A memorial service was held on December 3rd at the United Methodist Church in Choteau. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Pendroy United Methodist Church, Teton Nursing Home or to the charity of one's choice.