Esther Swanson

Esther L. Swanson passed away Sunday, September, 4, 2011 at Lemay Avenue Health Center in Ft. Collins, CO. She had been a resident there for the past five years. Esther Imogene Lucht was born February 11, 1921 at home in Brush, CO to Frank F. and Hannah (Madsen) Lucht. She was raised in the Brush area, and graduated from Brush High School in 1939. She graduated from Colorado State College of Education in 1947 with a degree in Elementary Education. Esther taught school in Morgan County and Ft. Lupton, CO prior to her marriage. She taught fourth and fifth grades in the Galeton and Eaton, CO school districts, with team teaching in the language arts for the majority of her career. She also sponsored participation for her students in the Woodmen of America speech contest. She retired from teaching in 1986, after 30 years of service. Esther married Oscar W. Swanson on March 2, 1946, at First English Lutheran Church in Brush. Initially they made their home in Eaton, moving to the farm near Galeton shortly thereafter. In 1967 they moved back to Eaton and lived there until Esther moved to Fort Collins in 2006. Oscar and Esther celebrated 53 years of marriage, prior to Oscar’s death in 1999. Esther was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greeley. She was an active volunteer in the church and served as Sunday school superintendent for many years. She also taught and coordinated Vacation Bible School at Immanuel. In addition, she was a member of the Altar Guild, Church Council and Women of the ELCA bible study groups. She was a member of the quilting group at Immanuel and the XYZ retirees. Esther was also an active member of the Colorado Retired School Employees Association, as well as the Weld County Retired School Employees Association, serving in multiple volunteer leadership roles in both groups. Esther was also a member of the Galeton Kensington Club. Esther enjoyed spending time with her family and was especially fond of the time that she spent with her grandchildren. She loved to teach, bake, sew, quilt, embroidery and read. Many of these activities will remain with her children and grandchildren as her legacy. Esther is survived by her four children, Jo Orr (Glen) and Kathleen Dahlgren (John) of Fort Collins, John Swanson (Kathy) of Greeley, and Marian O’Connor (Brian) of Arvada, CO; 11 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar, her parents, three brothers and two sisters. Visitation will be from 5 – 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at Adamson Chapel, Greeley. A celebration of Esther’s life will be held Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1865 14th Avenue, Greeley. Interment will follow the service at Sunset Memorial Gardens. A reception will be held at the church, following services at the cemetery. Memorial contributions may be to the "UNC Foundation”, in care of Adamson Funeral & Cremation Services, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634.