Ovedia Swanstrom's Obituary
Ovedia ("Dee") Ingeborg Swanstrom, age 91, went to be with her Lord, surrounded by her loving family in her Gig Harbor home, on Sunday, January 20, 2008. Dee was born in Divide County, North Dakota, on November 28, 1916, to Norwegian immigrants Osmond and Ingeborg Hauge. The family moved to Washington in 1935, after depression-era drought took their farm. Dee graduated from PLU with a teaching degree in 1938 and taught early elementary grades in Fife and Tacoma for many years. She married Alfred Swanstrom in 1946, and they had 54 wonderful years together until Al's death in 2000. They raised three children in Fircrest, then moved to Gig Harbor in 1974, where they built a beautiful home on Wollochet Bay. Dee's strong faith and generous spirit touched many lives. She and Al traveled widely, but her heart was in her home, where they extended loving hospitality to family and friends throughout the years. Dee was an active member of Life Center Church throughout her adult life She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend, and was blessed by her Lord with a long and productive life. Dee is survived by her son Dr. Carl Swanstrom, daughter Marjorie Raleigh and her husband Jerry Kimball, and daughter Ginny Swanstrom, all of Seattle; brother John Hauge and his wife Arlene of Tacoma; and a close extended family. She is predeceased by her husband Alfred and sister Bernice Gorsuch. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2008, at Life Center Church, S. 18th & Union, Tacoma. Memorials may be made in Dee's honor to Multicare Hospice, P.O. Box 5200, Tacoma, WA 98415; Life Christian School Academy, 1717 S. Union, Tacoma, WA 98406; or Young Life Gig Harbor, 6659 Kimball Dr., Bldg. A-101, Gig Harbor, WA 98335. Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home, 584-0252.
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