Inez E. Swanson

Inez E. Swanson, 92, Frankfort, died Monday, January 30, 2023 at the Community Memorial Healthcare in Marysville, KS. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m., Saturday, February 11, at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, rural Axtell, KS. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church. Parish Ministry Associate David Winquist will officiate. Lisa Broxterman will play the organ while the congregation sings "This Is My Father's World", "O Jesus, I Have Promised" and "Now Thank We All Our God." The pallbearers will be Eric Ketter, Chad Ketter, Cody Ketter, Gabe Ketter, Chris Combs and Joey Wall. The honorary pallbearers will be Erin Dreiling, Jason Passmore, Morgan Combs, Joshua Swanson and Robert Koch. Burial will follow in the Salem Lutheran Cemetery. Inez was born April 7, 1930, in rural Vliets, KS, the daughter of Edward and Clara (Kjellberg) Johnson. She was baptized, confirmed and lifelong member of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, rural Axtell. She taught Salem Sunday School and Summer Bible School classes, joined the Rebekah Circle Women’s Organization, served organizational and funeral lunches, and contributed in other ways to the church. She was also a lifelong member of Salem’s Women Group and previously a member of Salem Lutherans Ladies Missionary Society and Salem LLL Daughters, when the organizations were operating. Inez attended the Lincoln Country School District #51 (rural Vliets), being promoted through the 8th grade. She then attended Frankfort High School, Frankfort, graduating with the class of 1948. One of her remembrances of country schooling was participating in the 1944 Marshall County Spelling Bee and winning 1st place as an 8th grader. During high school, her musical talents pushed her to play trumpet in the high school band and athletically she participated in track. After high school, she worked for the 1st National Bank and for Security Benefit Life Insurance Company, both in Topeka. Inez was united in marriage to Harvey Leroy Swanson on August 27, 1949, at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church. Inez and her husband operated a grain and dairy farm in the Swede Settlement and Vermillion until 1957 when they moved to Vermillion. During the early 1950’s, they began operating Swanson Construction Company in partnership with Keith and Lucille Swanson. Later, Inez and Harvey operated Harvey Swanson Construction Company and a soil conservation service business (until 2004), that served customers throughout Marshall, Pottawatomie, Nemaha and Washington counties. Inez started a second career as a Certified Nurse’s Aide working at the Frankfort Community Care Home from 1974 through 1995. In late 2016, she decided to move to assisted living at Cambridge Place in Marysville. In her apartment there, she was very proud to hang the plaque from FCCH, signifying that she served as a CNA there for twenty years. When some CNA’s came in to help or treat her during her residence, we occasionally heard that she told the CNA, “I did your job for twenty years and I know what you are supposed to be doing!” in a jovial playful way. She was also a member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary in Frankfort. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Harvey; brother, Lyle D. Johnson; son, Terry L. Swanson; grandson, Brian M. Combs; great-grandson, Houston D. Ketter; and nephew, Richard A Johnson. Survivors include her son, Larry (Pauline) Swanson, Frankfort; daughters, Lyla (Stephen) Smith, Topeka, Colleen (Morgan) Combs, Frankfort, and Kathy (Larry) Ketter, Home; and twelve grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. Memorials in memory of Inez Swanson may be sent to Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Property & Improvement Fund. All contributions in her memory may be sent in care of Padden Funeral Chapel. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Inez E. Swanson, please visit our flower store.