Alvina Irene Swanson

Memorial services for Alvina Swanson, age 91, of Milaca, will be held Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Milaca with Rev. Tim Bauer officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will take place in the Forest Hill Cemetery near Milaca. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Milaca Scholarship Foundation. Alvina Irene Swanson (Maitland) of Milaca, Minnesota passed away on May 19th at the Elim Home in Milaca at the age of 91 years, 11 months and 17 days. She was born at home on June 2, 1921 on her grandparent’s farm in Rossberg, Aitkin County, MN to James and Ella (Beiries) Maitland. Her parents farmed in Glen, Minnesota where Alvina attended grade school. The family moved near Isle, MN in Eastside Township. She graduated from Isle High School in 1940. She married Andree (Andy) Swanson on January 31, 1942. During World War II while Andy was in the army, Alvina moved with her daughter, Aloha and parents to Van Port, OR to work in the shipyards. After the war, Alvina, Andy and Aloha returned to Minnesota and purchased the Swanson Family farm in Page Township (Tibbetts Brook) where they farmed many years and had 5 more children, Alan, Ann, Arlene, Alyce, and Aimee. Alvina also worked for Fingerhut Mfg. for more than 20 years. Alvina enjoyed her family, gardening, canning, sewing, baking, music, dancing, and children, especially babies. She loved visiting family and friends and after she and Andy retired, they spent time in their RV camping. Alvina remained on the farm after Andy passed away in 1989 and in 2005 she moved to the Milaca Park Apartments. She was preceded in death by her husband Andy in 1989, her children Alan in 1952 and Aloha in 2012, 2 grandchildren, her parents, her sister Viola, and many other relatives and friends. Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, DuWayne Johnson, Land O’Lakes, FL, Ann and Tiit Raid, Fall Creek, WI, Arlene Kreller of Milaca, Alyce and Dean Sanderson of Milaca, and Aimee and Kenny Struffert of Foreston. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren: Brian (Angela) Johnson, Emma and Becca; Kari (Brian) Burns, Andrew; Aaron (Shannah) Kreller, Keagon, Grace, Lillian and Jennah; Jennifer (Dewey) Schramm, Jake, Amber and Cody; Adam (Jennifer) Sanderson, Jaxson; Joseph (Erin) Sanderson, Ella; Patricia (Eric) Gramentz, Brooke and Brynn; and Andrew (Krista) Struffert, Brianna and Lee, her brother Harold (Sally) Maitland of Isle, Minnesota and nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The Swanson family would like to thank the Elim Home, The Guardian Angels, and the residents of the 4th floor of the Milaca Park Apartments for all of the wonderful care and friendship they provided our mother.