Helen Amelia Johnson Swanson (November 16, 1877-March 20, 1929)
Helen Amelia Johnson was born in Sweden, November 16, 1877 and passed away at the Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines March 20, 1929, aged 51 years, four months and 4 days.
At the age of three years she came with her parents to America, locating at Keithsburg, IL., where she grew to young womanhood. She was united in marriage to Andrew E. Swanson, December 27, 1894 and to this union six children were born, all of whom, with her husband survive her. The children are: Maynard F. of Creston, Iowa; Edward W. of Mount Ayr; Mrs. D.C. Gillette and Marie Swanson of Des Moines; Alvin L. of Zering, Iowa and Andrew Junior at home.
She is also survived by her father, F.A. Johnson of Willard, CO., one sister, Mrs. H.E. Fender of Tingley, Iowa, two brothers, H.R. Johnson of Dodson, MT., E.P. Johnson of Letcher, S.D., and one half brother, Frank Lander of Tacoma, WA. Her mother preceded her in death January 27, 1903.
Mr. and Mrs. Swanson came to Iowa in the year of 1899 and have made Ringgold County their home since that time. The deceased united with the Methodist Church at Wishard Chapel in 1903 and later transferred her membership to the Methodist Church in Mount Ayr, and was one of its most faithful and conscientious members.
Mrs. Swanson was a woman of unusual ability as a homemaker and was always happiest when sacrificing for others. She has been a teacher of girls’ Sunday school class for several years and has held important offices in the church aid and missionary societies and was most faithful in every duty, always doing more than her share of any service entrusted to her care. She was also a member of the Royal Neighbors lodge and will be sadly missed from their circle as well as by the people of the entire community who are grief stricken over the loss of this “good woman.”
Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at 2:30 at the Methodist Episcopal Church, being conducted by the pastor, Rev. E.S. Menoher, and interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
