Paul Rubert Swanson

Reverend Paul Rubert Swanson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, pastor and friend, peacefully died surrounded by family on October 8, 2025. Paul was born on May 13, 1943, in Bakersfield, California, the son of the Rev. Roland and Isabelle (Magnusson) Swanson. Paul was raised in his early years in Yakima, Washington, moving to Mount Vernon, Washington, in the winter of 1956. Paul graduated from Mount Vernon Union High School in 1961, earned an Associate in Arts degree from Skagit Valley Community College in 1963 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pacific Lutheran University in 1966. In the summer of 1967, Paul and Mary Greene of Nampa, Idaho, were married. Paul and Mary lived in Chicago while Paul was a student at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. In the spring of 1970, he graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree and was ordained into the ministry of the Lutheran Church in America at Salem Lutheran Church, Mount Vernon, Washington.

Paul served two congregations, First Lutheran, Anaconda, Montana (1970- 1976), and King of Kings Lutheran, Milwaukie, Oregon (1976- 1984 ). In the spring of 1984, Paul became the Assistant to the Bishop of the Pacific Northwest Synod LCA and served in that position until the end of 1987. In the summer of 1987, Paul was elected as the first Bishop of the Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving in that position until his retirement in 2007. Paul enjoyed his retirement years traveling, reading and participating in various church gatherings, but his favorite activities were times spent with his children, grandchildren and extended family.

In his capacity as Pastor and Bishop, Paul served on many Boards and Committees for the Church and community, including the Executive Board of the Pacific Northwest Synod, LCA, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Pacific Lutheran University Board of Regents, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Board, and the Emanuel Hospital and Legacy Health System Board of Directors, Portland. Paul was honored to receive the Distinguished Service Award (1993) and the Distinguished Alumnus Award (2007) from Pacific Lutheran University.

Paul is survived by a loving family that includes his wife, Mary, daughters Kristen (Matt) Paschall and Karlynn (Scott) Salter, and son Jon (Jill) Swanson, grandchildren Ryan, Luke, Andrew, Avery, Alex, Melinda and CJ, brothers Mark (Wendy), Peter (Jean) and Thomas (Debbie), brother-in-law Paul (Debbie) Greene, sister-in-law Ruth (Duane) Thompson, cousins, nephews and nieces.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Milwaukie Lutheran Church,

Milwaukie, OR on November 8th, 2025, at 1:00 pm.

Donations in Paul’s name would be greatly appreciated by his family, and their preferences are:

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Fund for Leaders: ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1806, Merrifield, VA 22116-8000.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America World Hunger: ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009.

Pacific Lutheran University Roland and Isabelle Swanson Family Scholarship, University Relations, Pacific Lutheran University, 12180 Park Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98444.