MaryEllen Swenson

On Oct. 4, 2010, MaryEllen Swenson died at her home in Thousand Palms, Calif., where she and her husband Jim had retired in 2003. She was born the ninth of 10 children, to Ralph and Eva Hodgson Simpson on Sept. 19, 1940, in Pengilly, Minn.

The family moved to Shelton, Wash., in 1951 where she attended school, later married and had two children. She moved to Petersburg, Alaska in 1960 and lived in several cities in her “beloved state” for the next 40 years; the greater part of that time was spent in the Palmer area.

MaryEllen worked in a variety of fields; grocery business, city and state clerical, bartending, and on the North Slope, to name a few. She was well known for the lunches she catered for Rotary, Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce. The comments from those attending were always the same, “Well, I don’t have to cook dinner tonight!”

MaryEllen got married before she finished high school and was very proud to say “She got her degree in ’93!”

She was a member of the Elks and became a College of Regents in the Palmer Women of The Moose. She was always there to serve – she volunteer for everything that needed her help. Sometimes things would overlap, but her “We’ll take care of it,” seemed to work somehow. MaryEllen loved gatherings with family and friends; picnics, dinners, playing cards and the simple joy of being with those she loved and who loved her. Her greatest joy was to see others happy. Her first choice of songs to be sung at her memorial was, “All is Well With My Soul.” Smile, make her happy.

MaryEllen is survived by her loving husband Jim of 30 years, daughter Julie (Jeff) Stang of Gig Harbor, Wash.; sons Andy Halvorson, Queen Valley, Ariz., David Eddy, Seattle, Wash., and Jon Swenson, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia; sisters Dolores McClure, Palmer, Eva Hobbs, Shelton, Wash.; brother (Lois) Simpson; grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Preceding her in death; her parents Ralph and Eva Simpson, brothers Loren, Ralph (Lad), Keith, and Leroy Simpson; and, sisters Joyce Olson and Kathleen (Blitz) Kennedy.

Celebrations of her life were held in Thousand Palms California and at The Faith Lutheran Church in Shelton, Wash. Memories will always be a celebration of her life. She is missed.