Bernice Adell Swanson

Bernice Adell Widmayer was born on October 23, 1917 in Minneapolis, MN. As the oldest of 3 children, she frequently cared for her brother and sister as her mother was not well. After graduating High School, she attended Business College and worked at various banks and businesses including the Social Security Administration. Her best friend introduced her to Carl Swanson who was completing his engineering degree at the U. of Minnesota. They married on April 3, 1943, just a week before he was shipped overseas during WWII. She continued to work to save money for their future home and they settled in Edina Minnesota when he returned. Their 3 children – Ronald, Carolyn, and Kurt – were born there and Bernice was involved with all their school and sport activities. In 1964 they moved to Virginia when Carl took a position with the Army Corp of Engineers at Ft. Belvoir. They joined Bethlehem Lutheran Church and actively volunteered there for the next 50 years. Their lives revolved around their children and their church family. Bernice sang in the choir and played piano for the children in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. A wonderful pianist, she continued playing the piano at 3 senior centers until she was almost 95 years old. Bernice returned to work again as the children went into college. Working at Coastal Engineering Research near Ft. Belvoir she received several awards and enjoyed her job. But once they retired and the children were out on their own, she and Carl bought an RV and enjoyed trips visiting family and friends. Back home, their lives life continued to revolve around their children and now grandchildren. Each summer everyone gathered for family time at the beach – she loved the beach and felt it important that everyone stay in touch with each other. What people remember most about Bernice was her love for her family and her sweet and gentle personality. She was always positive in her outlook on life and exhibited strength, especially after her beloved Carl died in 1993. She was kind and generous and always put others before herself. She was forever making meals to give to friends or soup for those that weren’t feeling well. Guests were always welcome in her home and everyone always said that no one left the Swanson home hungry. She befriended everyone she met and always asked everyone how they were doing. Even at the very end when she was having difficulty breathing, her first question to people that came to visit her was how they were. She lived a blessed life for over 100 years and touched the hearts of everyone she met. Her husband, her 3 children, her 11 grandchildren, and her 7 great grandchildren were all blessed to have her in their lives. Her passing on June 27, 2018, has left all of us reeling, but we know she is at peace. Left to cherish her memory is her sister, Elizabeth Borden; her beloved children, Ronald (Patricia), Carolyn (Larry), and Kurt (Betsy); 11 treasured grandchildren, Erin (Christian), Meagan (Lathan), Laura (Patrick), Jennifer, Nicholas, Garth (Rachel), Krista (Wolf), Logan, Nathan, Lane, and Jack (Marissa); and 7 amazing great grandchildren, Ryan, Laurel, Anja, twins Samantha and Landon, Morgan, and Axel; and a multitude of nieces and nephews that were very dear to her.