Mary Arleen Swanson

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Messiah Lutheran Church.

Survivors include two sons, Brian J., and Wayne A., both of Grand Junction; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506.

Mary Arleen Swanson passed away on March 29, 2016 in Grand Junction, CO. She was 96.

Born February 12, 1920, in Minturn, CO, to Henry and Pauline Elliott, Mary grew up on the family’s dairy farm. In 1944 while delivering milk to the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale CO she met Wesley A. Swanson. They married and had 4 sons. Mary and her young son Paul crossed the ocean on a big ship to be with Wesley when he was stationed in Germany while serving in the U.S. Army during WWII. Their second son, Dennis, was born in Germany. Mary had a full and rewarding life.

Occupations included homemaker, truck driver, cook, and cashier at J.C. Penny’s. In 1975 she and her husband retired and moved to Grand Junction where they owned and operated the Fruita Washeteria for 10 years. After their son Paul passed away they raised his daughter, Sarah, who would be the first in the family to graduate from college. Mary loved being involved in her Lutheran Church of Messiah, as well as camping and fishing.

Mary is survived by her sons, Wayne Swanson and Brian (Sandy Holloway) Swanson, both of Grand Junction; grandchildren, Wesley M. Swanson of Denver, and Sarah (Chris) Kjellerson of Grand Junction; and five great-grandchildren. Mary is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, two sons, two sisters, and three brothers

A memorial service will be held Monday, April 11 at 11:00 am at Lutheran Church of Messiah; the family requests that cards and flowers be sent to the church, 840 N. 11th St, Grand Junction, CO.