Florence Zella Swanson

Florence Swanson of Rush City passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Cambridge Medical Center on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at the age of 94.

Florence Zella Hathaway was born on August 11, 1927 to Joseph and Bertha (Stricker) Hathaway in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Florence married Delbert Swanson on June 25, 1950. They were married for a wonderful 55 years, until he passed away in January of 2005. They had 4 children and lived in the town of Rush City for 10 years, until they built their current home out in the country near Rush Point. Florence worked various jobs throughout the years, but retired from Plastech Corporation in Rush City after many years. She was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rush City. Some of her favorite pastimes were playing cards with her large group of friends at the Rush City Senior Center, meeting for coffee with friends at Burger King, and numerous outings with family and bus trips to the Casinos. Her favorite hobbies included reading chapter books daily (she had read 1,507!), shaking dice and playing the game Farkle with family, playing cribbage daily with Kevin, baking cookies and banana bread and canning from her large garden. She especially loved her dog and best friend, Ralphie of 11 years! She was known for her "Spunk" and "Telling it like it was", and she always put a smile on everyone's face that she met. She will be remembered for her caring, generous and loving ways. She lived a very simple life and always put everyone else first.

Florence is survived by her son Kevin Swanson of Rush City; grandchildren Travis (Brittany) Just of Tampa, Tennille (Jerry) Lewis of North Branch, Timarie (Derek) Jacobson of Chisago City, Tracy (Asher) Judd of Hugo, Lindsey Martin of Lakeville, Emily Swanson of Washington, and Caleb Swanson of Rush City; great-grandchildren Arisa and Ren Just, Teegan and Easton Goebel, Jaylyn, Braylee and Bryson Jacobson, Alexa and Jaxon Judd, Raegan and McKenna Martin; son-in-law Michael (Pat) Just of Rush City; brothers-in-law Bill (Teresa) Peterson of Cambridge, Doug Smith of Ham Lake; sisters-in-law DeDe Swanson of Rush City, Lois Swanson of Forest Lake; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Bertha Hathaway; husband Delbert Swanson; daughter Jacqueline Just; sons baby boy Swanson, Tom Swanson; granddaughter Trisha Swanson; great-granddaughter Alivia Judd; sisters Bernice (Emery) Peden, Vivian (Marlo) Swanson; brothers Joe (Lorraine) Hathaway, Jr., Donald (Judy) Hathaway; brothers-in-law Larry Swanson, Ernie (Bonnie) Swanson, Verilyn Swanson; sisters-in-laws Violet (Gordan) Freedlund, Elaine Peterson, Delores (Willard) Mold, Gloria (Ernest) Rohlf, Arlys Smith.

Pastor Nathan Baker-Trinity will officiate at funeral services for Florence: 11 AM; Friday, December 3, 2021 with a time of visitation and reviewal planned from 5-8 PM; Thursday (12/2) and also one hour prior to the service all at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rush City. The interment will take place in First Lutheran Cemetery, Rush City.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Funeral Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com