Ronald Swanson

Ronald V. Swanson, 80, Fairmount, ND, passed away Sunday, February 14, 2016 at Essentia Health, Fargo, ND. The Funeral Service will be Friday, February 19, 10:30 a.m., at United Methodist Church, Fairmount, with Rev. Mark Gronseth officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, from 5 PM to 7 PM with a 7 PM Prayer Service at Willow Creek Chapel, Wahpeton, ND, and one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be at Fairmount Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted with Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Ron was born on August 22, 1935 in Breckenridge, MN, the son of Clarence and Edith (Klosterman) Swanson. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Fairmount Public School in 1953. He served in the US Marine Corp from 1954 to 1957 during the Korean War. Upon returning home he attended NDSCS and worked as a page for two sessions at the ND State Capital in Bismarck.

Ron was united in marriage to Carmen Goerger on November 4, 1961 in Mantador, ND, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Ron was a lifetime farmer as well as a small business owner of a Standard Station in Fairmount, ND in the 1960's. After his retirement from his own farming he worked with several local farmers in the area. Ron also worked eleven years for Minn-Dak Farmers Co-op.

He drove bus for Fairmount School and was a member of Fairmount Fire Department and was an active member of the American Legion Post 106, were he also served as commander. He loved working with animals, gardening, fishing and was a master at repairing and restoring farm machinery and anything mechanical. He was interested in history, airplanes and attending air shows.

Ron is survived by his wife, Carmen, rural Fairmount; four children: Tamara Swanson O'Meara, Mitchell, SD; Cynthia Swanson Geray, Maple Valley, WA; Robert (Renae) Swanson, Fairmount, Mary (Dean) Meyer, Rochester MN; nine grandchildren: Veronica, Katie, Amanda and James Geray; Derek (Alexis) McGarry, Hailey and Nathan Swanson; and Connor and Dalton Meyer; five great-grandchildren: Alexia and Blaine Dick, Sophia and Jaxton Geray; and Everlee McGarry; Four sisters: Constance Smith, Westminster, CO; Alice McColley, Fergus Falls, MN: Dorothy (Peter) Hermes, Ashby, MN; Carol (Bill) Kessler Portland, OR; numerous brothers and sisters-in-law; and a special friend, Steve Bernard.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Edith Swanson, a sister-in-law, Joyce Goerger; brother-in-laws Gerard Lenzen; James Smith and George McColley, and father and mother-in-law, Herb and Mary Goerger.