Leona M. Swanson, age 89, of Forest Lake formerly ofIsantidied January 20, 2009 at Birchwood Health Care Center in Forest Lake. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, January 26th at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Francis with Rev. John Maxfield officiating. A visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in St. Fridolin Cemetery in Champlin.
Leona M. Swanson was born October 23, 1919 in Anoka to Charles and Eva (Wirz) McCallum. She was raised in Anoka County and graduated from St. Francis High School. Leona then attended Nursing School at Eitel Hospital in Minneapolis and became a registered nurse. On September 5, 1942 she married John F. Swanson, Jr. in a garden wedding at her parent’s farm in rural Anoka. Because of John’s job they made their home in several places, including Bismarck, North Dakota, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Aberdeen, South Dakota, East Bethel and Martin Lake. In 1993 they made their home in rural Isanti. Leona became a resident of Birchwood Health Care Center in 2003.
Leona was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Francis and served in many capacities over the years and she also started the Trinity Chile Suppers. Her nursing career brought her to many places, including: Mork Clinic in Anoka, Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Director of Nurses at Crestview Nursing Home in Minneapolis, Administrator at Prospect Park, and the Buffalo Hospital. She served on the Council for Policy and Procedures for the State of Minnesota Nursing Homes under President Reagan. Leona was also a guest speaker in Japan for an International Nurses Convention. She was always an active person and also enjoyed gardening and watching the birds and wild life.
Leona passed away on January 20, 2009 at Birchwood Health Care Center in Forest Lake at the age of 89 years, 2 months and 27 days. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, John in 2000; brother, Bud McCallum; foster-sister, Lucille Morton; and son-in-law, Buddy Allin. Leona is survived by 2 sons, Jack of Isanti, Tim and Pat of Isanti; 2 daughters, Leone (Paul) Rieck of Cincinnati, Ohio, Carol Allin of Hemet, California; by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and by other relatives and friends.