Funeral services for Rev. Ernest R. Swanson, 80, Eudora, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with Rev. Steve Swanson, Pastor Rory Lewellyn, and Gary Edge officiating. Burial will follow in Eudora City Cemetery.
Rev. Swanson died Thursday, Apr. 18, 2013, in Eudora, KS after an extended illness.
He was born Nov. 28, 1932, in Red Wing, MN, the son of Ernest R. Swanson Sr. and Angie M. Pearson. He graduated from Central High School in Minneapolis, MN, and later graduated from North Central Bible College with a degree in Pastoral Studies.
Rev. Swanson was an Assembly of God minister and a nursing home administrator in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and Texas. He was a farmer at heart and enjoyed long drives in the country. He also loved reading, fixing things, and spending time with his wife, children, and their families.
He married Mary Ann Bowman on May 29, 1954, in Granada, MN. Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann, of almost 59 years, and three of his children, Deborah A. Lewellyn and husband Rory, Ephrata, WA, Rebecca L. Edge and husband Gary, Irving, TX, and Stephen K. Swanson and wife Beth, Eudora, KS, a sister, Katherine M. Swanson, Memphis, TN, twelve grandchildren, namely, Mandy (Eric) Mason, Heather (Riley) Brewer, Whitney Lewellyn, David Lewellyn, Jonathan Lewellyn, Emily (Grant) Bruscoe, Nathan Lewellyn, Abigail Edge, Benjamine Edge, Colin (Paige) Edge, Kent Swanson, Kyle Swanson and six great grandchildren, Ben Mason, Stella Mason, Caleb Brewer, Isaiah Brewer, Galilee Lewellyn, and Eleanor Lewellyn. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Robert Mark Swanson.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time