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Lake Bronson, Minn. - Margaret Swanson, 93, rural Lake Bronson, Minn. died at Karlstad Healthcare Center in Karlstad, Minn. March 1, 2013.
Ethel Margaret Gustafson was born Nov. 25, 1919 in Nelson Park Township west of Karlstad to Carl (C.J.) and Jennie (Johnson) Gustafson.
After her father died suddenly in 1923 leaving his wife with four small children, the family moved to the ridge south of the Karlstad school. As a child, she played in the meadows where the Meadows Assisted Living stands today. She was confirmed at the Karlstad Baptist Church and was active in youth groups.
Margaret graduated from Karlstad High School in 1937, Warren Normal College, and Moorhead Teachers College. She taught in country school including Beaton school, rural Karlstad. She also worked at Karlstad State Bank.
Dec. 7, 1946, she married Lennart Swanson of Jupiter Township west of Lake Bronson. Together, they farmed small grains, potatoes, and beef. They were named Outstanding Farm Couple in 1959. She was driving trucks and the combine until age 75.
Margaret was a founding member of Jupiter Harmony Homemakers; a member of Artists Unlimited; a Jupiter Busy Bees 4-H Club leader; and a Jupiter Township election judge. She was especially proud for winning Best of Show at Kittson County Fair. She loved cooking and baking, arts and crafts, quilting and teaching sewing. She was well-known for breadmaking, canning and feeding many hired men on the farm.
She was active in the Lake Bronson Community Covenant Church, she was a Sunday School teacher and superintendent, Ladies Aid member and President, and church treasurer. For decades she made Swedish egg coffee for church events. She was very proud of her Swedish ancestry and took language lessons as an adult.
She is survived by a brother, John Leonard Gustafson, Spokane, Wash.; children, Marilyn (Larry) Peterson, Richmond, Minn., Patricia Anderson, Plymouth, Minn., Joyce Cosek, Wheaton, Ill., and Lowell (Lori) Swanson, Carson, N.D.; grandchildren, Joel Anderson, Niki Anderson, Craig Peterson, Corey Peterson, Nicholas Cosek, Kendra Cosek and Christine Simon; great grandchildren, Josie Peterson, Adam Anderson, Linnea Anderson, Summer Simon, Allie Simon and Aubree Simon; a nephew, John Gustafson, nieces, Elaine Johnson, Linda Dick, Lois Chapel and Ingrid Stanley.
She was preceded in death by parents; husband, Lennart in 2003; a sister, Elna (Vincent) Johnson; nephews, Byron and Clinton Johnson; and brother, Carl Rudolph (Rudy) Gustafson of Karlstad.
Funeral services were March 5, 2013 at the Community Covenant Church at Lake Bronson. Interment was in Jupiter Cemetery, rural Lake Bronson.
Wesley Staie, presided, Barb Staie, pianist, Lyndon Johnson, soloist and Marjorie Hawk, soloist.
Pallbearers were grandchildren.
The Austin Funeral Home of Hallock was in charge of arrangements.
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