Obituary of Vivian Swanson

Vivian Eleanore (Backman) Swanson, 87, of Milaca, Minnesota, formerly of Grandy, MN, went to her heavenly home on Sunday, June 29, 2014, at Elim Care and Rehab Center in Princeton, MN. Vivian was born on November 13, 1926 in Walbo (Springvale Township), Minnesota to Victor and Myrtle (Becklin) Backman. This is where she grew up and was educated in the Walbo Country School, completing eighth grade in 1940. She was employed at Munsinger in Minneapolis and then care for a young boy at that time. On June 28, 1947 she married Willard Swanson at the Cambridge Lutheran Church in Cambridge, MN. They were blessed with three daughters: Audrey, Diane, and Shirley. They resided in Spring Lake Park, MN for six years; then six in Tracy, MN where they owned and operated the Cozy Grove Motel and gas station. In 1959 they moved to New Brighton, MN, where they resided for three years. During that time Vivian was baptized, as an adult in her home church. In 1962 they moved to Grandy, MN. On Vivian's 38th birthday she started working at the Cambridge Regional Center in food service and was there for 25 ½ years. Vivian resided in Grandy, MN for 42 years before she moved to Country Meadows in Milaca, MN in late December 2006. She was a member of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church and years ago the Grandy Good Cheer Guild. Vivian was shy and she had a kind gentle spirit. She enjoyed journaling and writing poetry as a way of self-expression. A poem she composed was in the Becklin genealogy history book in the Swedish Archives. She also enjoyed spending time with her family, flower gardening, dining out, reading, listening to country music, genealogy, crafts, and traveling. It was a dream come true when she and her grandson, Darwin, vacationed to Sweden, as well as England, Holland, Germany, Norway, Denmark, France, and Belgium. Vivian was preceded in death by her husband Willard, sister Lorraine Swedeen; brothers Alden and Leland Backman and her parents Victor and Myrtle Backman. Vivian is survived by her daughters Audrey (Phillip) Tromsness of Northfield, MN, Diane (Thomas) Wetther of Princeton, MN, and Shirley Apollo of Andover, MN; grandchildren Lisa (Dave) Laine, Sara Tromsness, Darwin Dalen, Jamie (Shannon) Dalen; 6 great grandchildren; Rory, Reilly, and Dana Laine, Glenn, Tucker, and Oliver Dalen. Vivian also is survived by her sisters Ardis Swedeen and Gloria Cahoon both of Cambridge and many other loving relatives and friends. Funeral Services will be at 11AM Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rush Point with visitation one hour prior to services. Interment will be at Cambridge Union Cemetery. Arrangements are in care of Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Cambridge, MN.