Marjory B. Svanoe

Marjory Ann Baken Svanoe was born January 7, 1921, the second child and first daughter of Thero and Irene(Morgan) Baken. Her little sister Marilynn was born 15 months later. The family moved a number of times around Iowa before ending up in Madison, Wisconsin, when she was 10 years old. They joined Bethel Lutheran Church where they became active members. Marjory once said that her confirmation years were most important in shaping the faith she had the rest of her life.

Marjory had a talent for playing the piano. She was fortunate to be taken under the loving “wing” of the church organist. Her talent grew so that in high school, she was the accompanist for the concert choir as well as all of the school operettas.

Marjory graduated from East High School, Madison, Wisconsin, in 1938. In that same year she met her future husband… “the love of her life” … Richard “Dick” Svanoe who had come to Madison to do graduated work at the university and joined Bethel Lutheran. She was 17 and he was 24! Four years later, on February 7, 1942, they were married, eloping to Canton, Missouri.

On August 16, 1943, their first son Richard, Jr. was born in Jacksonville, Florida, where Dick was stationed with the U.S. Navy. Following WWII, the little family moved to Chicago, Illinois, where Dick got a job with Illinois Bell Telephone. In Chicago, four more children were born: Sue, Julie, Elizabeth and Tom.

Marjory moved with “grace” all over the state of Illinois wherever Dick’s job took them. Everywhere they went, the first and most important connection they made was with a Lutheran church … immediately joining the choir.

In 1981, Dick retired. In 1983 they moved to Sun City, Arizona, where they were once again active members of American Lutheran Church… especially singing and playing the bells. They were also active in the local Scandinavian Club and the Sons of Norway where Marjory continued to use her talents by always accompanying the group singing.

In 2002, at the urging of their five children, they moved to Cherry Creek Retirement Village in Aurora, Colorado, “to be near one of the kids”! When daughter Sue took over the Sunday worship service there, Marjory became the pianist. She continued playing until she moved to St. Andrew’s Village Assisted Living just after her 90th birthday in January of 2011.

Marjory lost her “love” Dick in September of 2007. Marjory loved her family. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother… gentle and kind… always smiling. Most of all she was a woman of faith. Her favorite hymn was “Under His Wings”. She lived her life trusting that her Lord was with her. She went home to her Lord, February 2nd, 2012.

She is survived by two sons, Richard (Genine Franklin-Clark) and Tom Svanoe; three daughters, Sue Svanoe (John Blachowski), Julie (Bob) Anderson, and Elizabeth (Alan) Hoffmeister; eight grandchildren, Joshua (Heather) Thompson, Jacob Thompson, Tera (John) Baker, Keri (Tim) Martin, Robin (Shane) Phillipps, Abbie and Noah Anderson and Hilary Svanoe; and eight great-grandchildren.

A life-long Lutheran and a wonderful pianist with a beautiful smile, Marjory lived a life of faith, family and music. On her 91st birthday when asked by her oldest grandson Joshua what words of wisdom she would like to pass on to the next generations, she said: “Talk to your Lord everyday!” That is the legacy with which she leaves us. May she rest in peace.

Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery, Denver, CO.