Rosary: Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.
Vigil service: Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 31, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.
Rite of Committal: Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery will full military honors provided by VFW Post #1579.
Robert "Bob" James Swanson, 81, died on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, at Holy Rosary Healthcare following a 2 1/2 year battle with lung cancer.
Mr. Swanson was born Sept. 8, 1929, in Miles City to Martin and Elvera Larson Swanson.In his youth, Mr. Swanson loved competing in sports and he played an important role in raising his sister Shari. He graduated from Custer County High School in 1947 and attended Custer County Junior College. He served in the NATO forces from 1950 to1952and was stationed in both Belgium and Germany.On May 4, 1955, he married Helen Marie Miller in Miles City. They moved to Bozeman where the couple had two children, James Robert and Karin Elizabeth, and he pursued a degree in accounting. He graduated from Montana State College in 1958.
After moving back to Miles City, the couple had a daughter, Elaine Marie in 1960.He was employed at L.P. Anderson, Stallard and Dent, and the Miles City Merchantile.During this time, he also joined the Knights of Columbus, the Eagles Lodge, and the Jaycees.In 1966 the family moved to Lompoc, CA where Mr. Swanson became a computer programmer for the aerospace industry, working on various projects including Apollo 11 (co-wrote a tracking program for the flight) and Apollo 13.Mr. Swanson and his family returned to Miles City in 1978.In the early 1980s he served in the Miles City Council and began a long career with Balsam, Inc., which lasted 25 years.
Throughout his life he was a big fan of sports and was an avid reader. He had a special place in his heart for dogs and every one he ever met seemed to know it.
Mr. Swanson was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Helen of Miles City.; his daughters, Karin Swanson and Elaine (Jerry) Forman, all of Miles City; his son, Fr. James Swanson L.C. of Cornwall, Ont.; his sister, Shari (Fred) Schaffer in Middletown, CT; his grandchildren, Erika Swanson of Bozeman, Amanda (Jeff) Backus of Springfield, VT, and Jake Forman of Miles City; and a great-grandson, Zeke Forman of Miles City.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. A vigil service will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 31, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery will full military honors provided by VFW Post #1579.Donations may be made to Sacred Heart School or Legionaires of Christ at 590 Columbus Ave., Thornwood, NY 10594 (www.legionariesofchrist.org) or a charitable organization of one's choice.
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