ALVIN SWANSON obituary

BIG SANDY - Alvin F. Swanson, 88, of Big Sandy, died, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, at his home from natural causes.

Visitation will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at Benton Funeral Home and on Monday one hour prior to the services at the church. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy, with the Rev. Jeff Stoopes officiating. Burial will be in the Big Sandy Cemetery.

He was born on the family farm on April 10, 1917, to Ferdinand and Alma (Blixt) Swanson. His mother died the following November from the flu epidemic of 1918.

Alvin married Lucille Blessing in 1950. They latered divorced.

He married Dorothy Shlupe on Dec. 20. 1975. They had four children.

He was a long time farmer and rancher in the Big Sandy area.

He enjoyed farming, his cattle, fishing and hunting, bowling, cribbage and bingo. He had a great love of basketball.

He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Havre. He enjoyed going to as many activities that family members were in to give them his support.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Swanson; brothers, Leonard Swanson and Stanley Swanson; and sisters, Evelyn Albright and Dorothy Norden.

Survivors include his stepchildren, James (Tanya) Winters of Great Falls, Kathy (Jack) Getten of Harlem, Richard (Diana) Winters Forks, Wash., Lana (Darrel) Woolsey of Lewistown; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friends, Cheryl and Mark Ostrom of Big Sandy.