Don Alfred Swanson, formerly of Arnold, Nebraska, passed away on June 1, 2024, with family in their independent living apartment in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the age of 93 years, 8 months and6 days.
Don was born September 26, 1930, at the old Arnold Hospital to Carl and Ruth Swanson. He and his parents lived on the farm south of Arnold. Don attended the Prairie View country school and graduated from Arnold High School in 1948.
On June 4, 1952, Don married Sunbeam Oman (Don died 3 days short of their 72nd wedding anniversary). To this union 2 children were born: Pauline and Donald Lee. They made their home north of Cozad until Don was drafted into the Army and sent to Germany. Sunbeam and the children joined him there for 17 months. When Don was discharged from the Army, they moved back to their home north of Cozad. Then, in 1959 they built a new home south of Arnold, where they lived for the next 60 years.
Don attended Tallin Church while growing up and received Christ as his personal Savior at Maranatha Bible Camp at 11 years of age. As an adult, Don taught adult Sunday School classes and served on the Tallin Church board for many years.
Don farmed and ranched all his adult life, except for his time in the Army. In 1975 Sunbeam started a business out of their home installing window treatments in homes and businesses. Don helped in many ways. Nothing gave Don and Sunbeam more joy than their family. Pauline married Duane Norman, and Donald Lee married Marilyn Landis. They blessed Don and Sunbeam with 5 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Their family always found the time to be together. Each one was very special to Don and Sunbeam.
Besides seeing family and getting together with friends, Don and Sunbeam enjoyed traveling. Over their married life, they took 19 tours in the United States and overseas. Their last tour was to Israel, which they always said was the best tour they took. It was so meaningful to walk where Jesus walked and to be baptized in the Jordon where Jesus was baptized.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Ruth Swanson, his father- and mother-in-law, Harry and Lettie Oman, and brother-in-law, Russell Brodhead. Don’s survivors include, wife Sunbeam Swanson, daughter Pauline Norman (Duane), son Donald Lee Swanson (Marilyn),grandchildren Janelle Weitzenkamp (Jon), Jonathan Norman (Desirae), Jamie Watson (David),Justin Swanson (Mandy), Grant Showalter-Swanson (Connor), 16 great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law Frances Brodhead.
Services will be, (i) visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, 5200 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, and (ii) funeral at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June8, 2024, at Tallin Church located on Hwy 40, 11 miles south and 2.1 miles east of Arnold, Nebraska (also, 25 miles north and 2.1 miles east of Gothenburg, Nebraska).
For memorial gifts, the family has chosen Tallin Church, 41196 NE-40, Gothenburg, NE 69138.