Blanche Arlene Swanson

Blanche Arlene Swanson, 77, of Grand Rapids and formerly of Cloquet, died Monday, May 25, 2002 at her home in Grand Rapids. She was born December 14, 1924 in Winchester, WI, the daughter of Christian and Mary (Hall) Brandt. Blanche was a 1941 graduate of the Rib Lake, WI High School and a 1945 graduate of St. Joseph's Hospital Nursing Program, Ashland, WI. She married Rodney Swanson on March 26, 1949 in Cloquet. Blanche was a registered nurse and worked at several area medical facilities, as the school nurse in Cromwell for several years and most recently as a consultant RN for the Mash-ka-wisen Treatment Center. She retired in 1986 and moved to Grand Rapids. She enjoyed knitting, embroidery, gardening, traveling, collecting antiques and especially loved dogs. She is preceded in death by her husband, Rodney, on September 18, 1977 and a brother, Merton Brandt. Blanche is survived by her son, Christian Swanson of Cloquet; three daughters, Gail (Brad) Pollard and Rhonda Mutchler, both of Grand Rapids and Deborah (John) Ezell of Carlton; 7 grandchildren, Matthew and Jodi Pollard, Jessica, Alison and Jacquelyn Ezell, and Benjamin and Jacob Mutchler; one great grandson, Dylan Ezell; and a brother, Roland (Janet) Brandt of Jekyll Island, GA. Funeral service were held at 1:00 PM Friday, May 31, 2001 in Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street in Cloquet followed by a luncheon in the Northland Fireside Room. Interment was in Maple Grove Cemetery, Cloquet.