WESSINGTON SPRINGS — Mary Swanson, 79, of Wessington Springs, passed away Thursday, May 5, 2022, at home surrounded by family under hospice care of Avera at Home-Mitchell.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs. Burial will be at Hope Cemetery in rural Wessington Springs.

Mary Ellen Ida (Holeton) Swanson was born on April 20, 1943, in Kirkland, Wash., to Elwin and Helen (Strem) Holeton. She lived in Fertile, Minn., then moved to Nashua, Mont., in the first grade and graduated from high school in 1961. After her graduation, her family moved to Wessington Springs. In August 1961, she started working at the Independent newspaper in Wessington Springs.

Mary and John (Jack) Swanson of Wessington Springs were married on October 25, 1964. They resided on the family farm west of town where they raised their five children.

Mary was an active and long-time member of the Templeton UCC church serving as treasurer for 12 years and currently as the secretary/treasurer of Templeton Fellowship. Since 1984, she actively served on the Food Pantry Board. Over the years, she was a member of Music Boosters of WSHS, Merry Mixers Extension Club, Deborah Circle, leader of Pleasant Valley & Belles 4-H club, past Sunday and Bible School teacher.

Mary enjoyed and took pride in sewing her beautiful quilts. She also would help tie quilts with the Zion Lutheran ladies that would be donated to the Linus Foundation and the Safe House in Mitchell and Veterans. Mary also enjoyed crocheting, playing cards and games with family. She liked mowing the lawn and planting her flower garden. One of her favorite parts of the day was watching Jeopardy and her favorite soap opera.

Mary is survived by her five children, Annette (Robert) Kroger of Mitchell, Helen (Rodney) Huisman of Wessington Springs, Jeanette (Brian) Voorhees of Mitchell, Stephanie (Dana Christofferson) Swanson of Blythe, Calif., and Eric Swanson of Wessington Springs; grandchildren, Kellie, Ashley, Matthew, Nathan, Trevor, Tayden, Jordan, Rachael, and Jackson; great-granddaughters, Leah, Lennox, and Lexie. She is also survived by her five siblings, Bonnie Will of Las Vegas, Nev., Wanda (Norman) Tapken of Wessington Springs, Elizabeth (Dave) Gaikowski of Mitchell, Mike (Jane) Holeton of Rapid City, and John (Jan) Holeton of Sioux Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; and both her parents.

      Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.