By HDN Staff
Raymond L. Swanson, 68, retired Burlington Northern carman, died Monday, Dec. 3, 2001, at a Havre hospital of pulmonary cancer.
Funeral service will be 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Chapel with Tim Maroney officiating. Burial with full military honors is to follow at the Highland Cemetery.
Raymond was born Jan. 25, 1933, to Charles E. and Elizabeth (Nygard) Swanson at Havre. He was educated in Havre. Raymond worked for Texaco Gas Station, then for Ed Freier doing contract work. He started with the Great Northern Railway in 1941. He began as a laborer in the car shop, then the diesel shop as a carman in the yard. In 1952, Raymond entered the U.S. Army. He served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1961. When Raymond returned to Montana, he returned to work for the Great Northern/Burlington Northern Railway. He retired from the railroad in 1983.
On July 8, 1953, Raymond married Marvel Wilson in Havre. To this union, six children were born.
Raymond was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles E. and Elizabeth (Nygard) Swanson; brother, Buddy Swanson; sisters, Hilma Swanson and Tillie Erickson; niece, Vicki Erickson; grandson, Steven Douglas Swanson.
Survivors include his wife, Marvel Swanson of Havre; daughters, Shelly (Doug) Erhard of Havre, Shannon (Paul) Sohm of Kremlin, and Sandy (Bill) Martian of Helen; sons, Steven (Shirley) Swanson of Westminister, Colo., and Scott Swanson and Stuart Swanson, both of Havre; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; four nieces.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Charlotte Kelley, Star Rte. 36 Box 22K, Havre, MT 59501, or Hospice of Havre, c/o Bear Paw Hospice, P.O. Box 1231, Havre, MT 59501.
Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.
