Services for Opal Swanson will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 30, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills with burial following in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 29, with the family present from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Roste Funeral Home of Hills. Opal K. (Sjolseth) Swanson, 91, Hills, died Monday, April 26, 2004, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Opal Sjolseth was born to Dan and Ida Sjolseth on July 8, 1912, in Hills. She graduated from Hills High School and attended the University of Minnesota and Luverne Normal School. She taught country school near Garretson, S.D.She married Arthur Swanson on Sept. 18, 1937, in Hills. They lived on a farm near Valley Springs, S.D., before moving to Hills in 1941. They later purchased the Hoyme farm near Hills. Mrs. Swanson was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills where she served as an officer in Ladies Aid, circle and Tuff Auxiliary. She also participated in Treble Singers, Bible Studies, Bethel Series and as a Sunday school teacher. She designed and made many liturgical banners and helped decorate the church each Christmas. She delivered Meals on Wheels, was active in Senior Citizens, Community Clubs and worked for various causes, such as Trash for Cash. She was a talented homemaker and avid gardener and was known for the beautiful wedding cakes she created.Survivors include three sons, David (Nancy) Swanson, Hills, Steven (Patricia) Swanson, Woodbury, and Stuart (Marjorie) Swanson, Greer, S.C.; one daughter, Mary (Peter) Herr, Deerfield, Ill.; 10 grandchildren, Peter (Betsy) Herr, Elizabeth Herr, Stacey Swanson, Jennifer (Chad) Nelson and Chris Swanson, Matthew, James and Thomas Swanson, Lance (Linda) Swanson and Alana (John) Wilson; six great-grandchildren, Taylor and Jaxon Nelson, Sophie and Breck Swanson and Ethan and Kyle Wilson. Mrs. Swanson was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Arthur, and two brothers, Douglas and Robert. Memorials may be directed to the Special Gifts fund at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.
