Delbert Kenneth Swanson died at his rural Rush City home on Jan. 27, 2005 at the age of 78 years.

Delbert, the son of Carl and Inga (Mell) Swanson, was born Oct. 12, 1926 near Rush Point in Nessel Township, Chisago County, Minn. Sponsors for his baptism in 1926 were Gladys Mell and Fritz Nelson.
Delbert attended rural District No. 24 School through the eighth grade and then worked at a few different jobs prior to enlisting in the military during World War II. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the United States Army and served with the Signal Corps, spending most of his service time stationed in the Philippines.

Upon receiving his honorable discharge, Delbert returned to Minnesota and settled in the Rush City area. He met Florence Hathaway at Mattsonís Resort on West Rush Lake, and they were married on June 25, 1950 at Florenceís pastorís church in Duluth, Minnesota. Four children were born to their union.

Delbert enjoyed his hobbies of hunting, fishing, wood whittling, farming with his dad, and playing cribbage. In earlier days, Delbert was a member of the slow pitch softball team at Rush Haven Resort on West Rush Lake.

Working as a mechanic, Delbert spent most of his working life at Ringer Oil and Johnsonís Standard in Rush City.

He is survived by his wife, Florence; his sons, Tom and Kevin Swanson; grandchildren: Travis Just of Columbus, Ohio, Tennille (Glen) Goebel of Harris, Minn., Timarie Just of White Bear Lake, Minn., Tracy Swanson of Duluth, Lindsey Swanson, Emily Swanson, and Caleb Swanson, all of Rush City; sisters: Delores Mold and Gloria Rohlf, both of Rush City, and Arlys (Douglas) Smith of Anoka, Minn.; brother: Larry (DeDe) Swanson of Rush City; son-in-law: Mike (Pat) Just of Rush City; brothers-in-law: Bill Peterson and his friend, Colleen Larson, of Harris, and Donald (Judy) Hathaway of Forest Lake; sisters-in-law: Vivian Swanson of Ham Lake, Minn., Bonnie Swanson of Grantsburg, Wisc., Lois Swanson of Forest Lake, and Bernice Peden of White Bear Lake, and Lorraine Taylor of White Bear Lake; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Inga Swanson; an infant son; his daughter Jacqueline Just; granddaughter Trisha Swanson; sisters Elaine Peterson and Violet Freedlund; brothers Marlo, Ernie, and Verilyn Swanson; brothers-in-law: Ernest ëSonnyí Rohlf and Willard Mold, and Emery Peden, Sr.

The Reverend Laurie OíShea officiated at funeral services Monday, Jan. 31, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rush City. The organist for the service was Diane Kirchberg and soloist Jan Goebel. Honorary casket bearers included Larry Swanson, Lloyd Colliander, Maurice Whited, Pat Whited, and Leo Janke. Active casket bearers were Mike Peterson, Randy Mold, Alan Rohlf, Kelly Smith, Joel Swanson, and Jim Peden with the interment in the First Lutheran Cemetery of Rush City. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service, Olson Chapel, Rush City, Minn.

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