Ethel Rosamond (Huson) Swick, Age 93, was born March 19, 1921 in Dilworth MN, the youngest of four children of railroad steam locomotive engineer Robert Henry Huson (1884-1963) and Selma (Rue) Huson (1896-1967). Her siblings have all pre-deceased her.
She grew up in Dilworth doing the normal things, like tipping over the outhouse (while the local policeman was in it) on Halloween and visiting her Norwegian-speaking grandmother by train in Streeter ND for the 4th of July. Her mother did not allow any activities, except church and dinner, on Sundays; so, on occasion, she and her sister snuck out to go to a movie. Even Sunday dinner was prepared beforehand. They took a trolley car (over the Red River) to church.
Ethel attended the Bismarck [ND] School of Nursing, proudly graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1942. She always wore the crispest cap, the cleanest white uniform and the whitest of shoes. There was no doubt about the pride she took in her work as an RN. Her nursing friends were dear to her as well, and she continued long-time correspondences with many old school chums, as well as attending Miles City gatherings of retired nurses. While attending school in Bismarck, she met a local boy who would later become her husband of 68 years, Roland Swick (1918-2010). They were married Aug. 1, 1942, in two ceremonies–one in her hometown, another later the same day at her home church in Fargo ND, just across the Red River from Dilworth. Rollie sailed off to Europe in WWII shortly after their marriage, and she continued to live with her parents and work as a nurse in a Fargo hospital until his return in 1945. While Rollie was away, her first child, Robert George Swick, was born. After the war, Rollie’s job as an optician took them to Miles City in 1947, where two more children, Bruce Clark Swick and Barbara Ann Swick, were born. Ethel continued her nursing career at the VA Hospital, the Holy Rosary Hospital and finally at the Garberson Clinic, all the while managing her professional life with a busy home life and children and church and community work.
Ethel and Rollie spent many happy summers in Minnesota at her sister’s cabin on Fox Lake. She was an avid fisherwoman (and hunted as well), and usually managed to get the largest fish. After retirement, she continued with numerous hours of volunteer activities, including the American Legion and Range Riders. She and Rollie were the backbone of Miles City’s Food Bank for many years, making pickups and deliveries well into their 80’s before they found it necessary to stop. On daily walks around town, if they saw a neighbor in their yard raking, they would stop and help, then continue on their way. She volunteered at the Friendship Villa many hours, long before becoming a resident. She and Rollie were honored to be chosen as Miles City ‘Volunteers of the Year’ at one time. Volunteering and giving back was the fabric of her life. At her church, she organized many events during years of funerals and church activities and took great pride in keeping the church narthex decorated and clean. She grew up frugally in the Depression Era, and her young married life was spent socializing with the older, founding ladies of 1st Lutheran Church in Miles City, where she was the youngest member of the Ladies Aid Society. Those women undoubtedly influenced her strong appreciation for tradition in the church. She loved the comforting old ways. Her Bible, Daily Devotions booklet, and the newspaper jumble puzzle were the first focus of each day. And, if she couldn’t complete the jumble by herself (which wasn’t often), she involved anyone within reach to help her find the answer. She never wanted to end the day without a complete answer to that puzzle!
Although it was a tough adjustment after Rollie’s death, she refused to leave Miles City to live near her children. She moved first to the Eagles Manor and continued enjoying friends, socializing and doing some church work until a health crisis in 2014 forced her to make her last move into the Friendship Villa. Bingo was her game in her last years. It was fun to win $$ at the Senior Citizens Center and at the Eagles Manor. She was a competitor at heart! Ethel was proud of her Huson (Irish) heritage, as well as her Rue/Helgeson (Norwegian) roots. St. Patrick’s Day was a favorite. She was the queen of holiday décor, for any and all holidays throughout the year, and took great pride and enjoyment in having others enjoy them at her home at 1008 S. Jordan and later in her room at the Eagles Manor and at the Villa. She especially loved to bake. In her younger years, she baked upwards of two dozen different varieties of Christmas goodies to share with friends and neighbors each year. Lefse was another of her specialties—reminiscent of her Norwegian heritage. She was generous in every way.
Our family would especially like to thank Ethel’s special angels and friends, Myrna Kutt and Ethana Zumpf , who visited her, got her groceries, took her to doctor appointments, did her laundry and, in general, allowed her to be independent as long as possible. Thanks, also, to Bob Jerrell at the Eagles Manor and to Linda with the Custer County Public Health Department, who were both so helpful and kind to Ethel while she lived at the Manor. Without each of you, her life would have been so much harder in the last few years. And our thanks to the Mollgaard family, whose long-time friendship and support have always been so important to the Swicks. Thank you to doctors Gallo (Miles City) and Jones (Billings) for your skills and care in these last years. She thought the world of both of you. Ethel’s last care was given by a compassionate and caring staff at the Friendship Villa—our thanks to each of you. Since her children didn’t live nearby, your concern greatly helped relieve our worries. Anna Kron, Ethel’s long-time neighbor and friend, will miss the evening telephone calls they shared to check on one another.
Ethel is survived by her three children, Bob (Jeanne) Swick of Moorhead MN; Bruce (Carol) Swick of Helena MT; and Barbara Swick Hastings of Stevensville MT. Six grandchildren also survive: Maret Swick (Duane) Kashmark, Adrianne Swick (Beau) Flom, Scott (Samantha) Swick, and David, Danny and Mike Hastings. Her legacy also includes six great-grandchildren (Alyssa Flom, Madison Kate Flom, Ryan Kashmark, Nathaniel Kashmark, Casandra Swick and Damien Swick) and one great-great-grandchild, Casandra’s son, Lane.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday March 3, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday March 4, 2015
First Lutheran Church
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday March 3, 2015
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday March 4, 2015
First Lutheran Church
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment
Wednesday March 4, 2015
Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
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Bobbi Askin says
Barb and all of the Swick Family. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. She was a truly wonderful person. Prayers for all of you for comfort in this time of great loss.
Alandra Hill says
To all of the Swick family, I loved and admired Ethel so much! Her and Rollie were my church family and took me and my daughter under their wing when we joined First Lutheran Church. Ethel and I share the same birthday so we would co-sponsor the radio broadcast that week to celebrate our birthdays. I will miss her dearly. Prayers to all of you.
Jim and Marilyn May says
To all of Ethel’s family we share your loss of such a special person. What fun times we shared with Rollie and Ethel and the Schabels as they visited us and the Lelands at Ismay.
Your folks had such a special marriage and deep faith in God as they served Him so well at First Lutheran. Such special memories of a dear lady, such a devoted wife, mother and nurse, too. What a role model for all of us. May God bless each of you in your sadness.
Shannon says
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. Please find comfort and strength from our loving God at 2 Corinthians 1:3,4.
Berta Cauthron says
Bob,
I remember when your family lived in the apartment across from Sharron Lee’s…and have good memories of both your parents, as well as our early childhood. My thoughts are with you.
Kay Carlson says
Barb and family,
Your parents were amazing. I have nothing but fond memories of both from my first meeting at First Lutheran in 6th grade. You were so blessed.
Linda Stokes says
So sorry to hear of Ethel’s passing. She was such a special, and kind person.
Richard & Linda Meidinger says
So sorry for the loss of your mother. I knew several of the Swick family many years ago. I always knew your dad from the Optical business and missed him when he was no longer there. I worked with you Barbara many years ago at Holy Rosary when I began my LPN career there. My maided name was Stevens at that time.
Your mom sounds like one special lady. May you have many memories to help you through this difficult time. Your in my thoughts and prayers.
Schulz Family says
Mary Jo and Al Schulz send their condolences and will miss Ethel.
Ed and jodi says
We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your Mother, Grandmother and friend to so many in Miles City. We are thinking of you at this time and are with you in Spirit.
Ted and Sandy Williams says
We are sorry for your loss. Your Mom and Dad were good friends of my parents, I have fond memories of life in Miles City with your family. Your Mom was such a caring person, spending her life doing for others, in her nursing career and time spent with her church and other volunteer work. Time and distance made connecting hard but the friendship of our parents endured. Your Mom will be missed by many, Ted will miss stopping by to say hello when in Miles. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Ted and Sandy
David & Lorna says
Dear Bob, Bruce, Barb, and Families,
Our thoughts are with you today and we wish we could be too. We loved the time we spent next door to your parents. We enjoyed spending time with them and “talking over the fence” very much, taking walks together and going fishing. Ethel took me on many interesting trips around town and into Miles City’s history – I already picked up my first penny from Ethel. Its been a privilege to know all of you.
God bless you!
Love, Dave and Lorna
millie jekel says
Ethel was a wonderful friend, she will be missed,
both she and Rollie were great friends to Alvin and myself while we lived in Miles city.
Leslie and Karen (Williams) Williams says
The friendship shared by Ethel and Rollie and our parents decades ago seems to have happened yesterday. Time cannot erase precious memories of such dear people. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.
Leslie and Karen (Williams) Williams
Marion and Gerry Hanson says
Dear Swicks,
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Know you will miss Ethel very much, she was such a special lady, but know you rejoice to know she is in Heaven with her Lord and Rollie.
Beth Ann says
I am so sorry that I could not be there to celebrate Ethel’s life yesterday. I would like you, her family, to know how honored I was to be a part of her life and to call her friend.
Janice Holkup says
Reading Mrs. Swick’s obituary brought back memories from childhood when I knew the Swick family through my Dad’s work at Benson Optical where he and Rollie Swick worked together for many years. I remember Mrs. Swick as quiet and steady. I know my parents enjoyed their social times with the Benson bunch which included the Swicks. When I was very young, preschool age, I remember some fun outings with the Benson Bunch which included the families.
Kristi Bowman Syein says
Barb and family,
Your mother had such a beautiful spirit that she shared with all she encountered. She will live on in our hearts. I hold dear her warm smile she always greater me with. I am so sorry for your loss.
Jody Dent Fox says
Rollie and Ethel were my godparents and they took that responsibility very seriously. They were loving, caring, active people in the faith and I’m glad they’re together again, even though they will be so missed here on Earth. All my love to them and the family left behind. You’ll see them again one day!