ARDYCE SWANK obituary

Ardyce Swank, 91, died Thursday, May 3, 2007 at the Benefis East Medical Center in Great Falls of natural causes.

Ardyce has been cremated. Her ashes will be buried in the family plot at the Chester Cemetery. A memorial service will be planned at a later date. She was born Ardyce M o n r e e n Robison on Nov. 10, 1915 at Lothair, M o n t a n a . Her parents w e r e Edward M. “ E . M . ” Robison & Clara Ethel Wilson. Ardyce was the second of four girls born to the Robison's. She received her early education at Lothair, then finished her schooling in Chester where she graduated from Chester High School in 1933. She married John H. Swank on June 26, 1935 at Great Falls. They made their home in Chester, where Ardyce enjoyed her life as homemaker and mother of three. The Swank's farmed/ranched in the Chester and Zurich communities during their working life. In addition Ardyce was employed as a clerk for the Town of Chester in the 1950s. When the Swank's retired in 1972, they began spending their winters in Yuma, Arizona. They also maintained a home in Chester during the summer months. After their health began to fail in 2001, they sold their Chester home and moved to Great Falls to be closer to their two daughters. The Swank's were married 67 years when John passed away on July 4, 2002. Ardyce continued to live with her daughter, Meredith, until 2004 when she transferred to Park Place Nursing Home. During the past few years she had resided in various Great Falls assisted-living facilities, most recently at Hosanna Home. Ardyce was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith and was a lifelong member of the Chester United Methodist Church. She had also been a member of the Eastern Star (Joplin Chapter) and the Republican Women. Her hobbies were many. She loved music; she played the piano “by ear” and she loved to sing (Ardyce sang in the Methodist church choir for many years). She also enjoyed flower gardening. During her quiet time at home, she loved to read (especially, romances). Ardyce and John enjoyed dancing and were active in the square-dancing circuit for many years. They also liked to play cards (mainly whist, pinochle andbridge). In addition they enjoyed riding their bikes and swimming together in Yuma and Chester. The Swank's were fortunate to have good health and happiness into their 80's. They loved to travel and made several memorable trips to the Baja Peninsula, Europe, Australia, Panama Canal, and Mexico. Ardyce was preceded in death not only by her husband and parents, a granddaughter, Robin Meech and two sisters, Louise Blake and Elaine Robison. Survivors are two daughters, Meredith (Don) Anderson of Great Falls and Sandy (Russell) Meech of Ridgecrest, California; a son, Terry (Monica) Swank of Chinook; seven grandchildren (inc. Jeff, Scott, Greg, Steffani, Steve, Ronda, and Donnie); 15 great-grand-children; one sister, Nadine Larson of Havre; one sister- in-law, Patricia Swank of Chester; and many nieces and nephews. Memorials can be sent to the new swimming pool fund in Chester. Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.