Esther Swanson 98, of Wessington Springs

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WESSINGTON SPRINGS — Esther Roselyn Swanson 98, of Wessington Springs, passed away from this world Monday afternoon, February 19, 2018, at the Weskota Manor Avera Nursing Home in Wessington Springs.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Saturday, February 24, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
She was born January 15, 1920, in the small farmhouse at the Stolen farm in southeast Jerauld County, to Arnt and Ella (Thompson) Fagerhaug. Esther married Douglas Swanson January 22, 1945, and was widowed in 1970. After attending the Fagerhaug Country School (the current Fagerhaug Museum which stands at the Wess. Springs Courthouse) she attended WSHS with the Class of 1937.
Prior to marriage, Esther worked as a domestic in Sioux City, Iowa; in several café’s, and the Jerauld County Deputy Treasurer.  While her husband was in the Service, Esther and Doug lived in Aberdeen, Maryland, but returned to Wess. Springs when he shipped overseas in WWII.
Much of Esther’s adult life was as a homemaker, but she and pal Mary Wenzel, were some of the local DIY gals hanging wall paper and painting numerous homes in town. After she was widowed, she worked two years as the bookkeeper at the Big Brick Co-Op for Harvey Christensen, and then the next 20 years as the Laundry Department Supervisor at Weskota Manor.                                                                
Esther was a member of Salem Lutheran Church, later joining with Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, the American Legion Auxiliary, a lifetime member of the Heritage Center as well as the Opera House, and a past member of Senior Center and the Slippers and Spurs Dance Club. Esther lived a full life, most of it in Wessington Springs. She has countless friends and has lost countless friends, but she was a loyal friend to all.
Esther is survived by her only child, daughter, Lana Fastnacht and husband Monte, three grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, Jason (Leslie) Fastnacht and their children, Jaxon, Lainey, Luke, Jaimey and Jenna; Cody (Lenore) and their children, Cortney (Tyler) McKinley, Lari and CJ; and Leah (Ben) Whiteker and their children Timber and Cash. Plus Esther’s first great-great- grandson, John Edward McKinley. Esther also leaves a host of Fagerhaug, Bergeleen, Roti, and Gillespie nieces and nephews; a very special ‘niece’ Pat Kogel; and two sisters-in law, Gladys Fagerhaug of Wess. Springs and Mary Gillespie of Wisconsin.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brother, Kenneth Fagerhaug; sister, Inez Bergeleen; sister and brother-in-law, Ardis and Harold Roti; and brother-in-law, Mike Gillespie.
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