Margaret Swanson
March 16, 2011
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Service Details
“Best well-known and most beloved volunteer,” described in 1999 by Business Record, and earlier in the late 70’s named by The Des Moines Register as one of the top ten women leaders. Margaret Boeye Swanson died March 16, 2011, at Taylor House Hospice.
The daughter of John and Juanita Boeye was born in Webster City, Iowa, on September 12, 1919. She was educated in Webster City public schools and one year at the local college, and graduated in 1941 from Iowa State University. Margaret worked at the University of Northern Iowa (Teacher’s College) from 1941 to 1942, the beginning of World War II.
On June 14, 1942, her parents' anniversary, Margaret married her high school sweetheart, Don C. Swanson at the Little Church of the Flowers at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. The couple lived in San Diego, and later moved to Chicago where the first two daughters, Cristine and Jean were born. During the war years of the 40’s, Don was in the FBI. Margaret did war volunteer work in San Diego and was a Red Cross Grey Lady in Chicago. The family moved to Des Moines in 1949, and soon after daughter Martha was born.
Margaret began her volunteer life at a young age, and didn’t stop until her death. Boards she served on included Red Cross, Moingona Girl Scouts, Orchard Place, Civic Center, Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center, Botanical Center, Young Women’s Resource Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Iowa Methodist Health Foundation, Iowa Health Systems Foundation, Calvin Community Foundation, Des Moines Public School’s Literacy Support Group, League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women, League of Attorney Wives, Friendship Force, Union Park Neighborhood Association, Neighborhood Advisory Board and the Science Center of Iowa. In 1949, Don and Margaret joined Union Park Presbyterian Church where Margaret served as an elder and remained a member until her death.
Margaret has received many awards from Girl Scouts, Red Cross, Sertoma Club’s Service to Mankind, March of Dimes, Women of Achievement, Women of Influence, Protestant of the Year Award from the National Council of Christians and Jews (now Community and Justice), Honorary Doctor of Laws from Grand View College, Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame, South Central Iowa Federation of Laborer’s Alice Whipple Award, Des Moines Citizen of the Day, East Des Moines First Citizen of the Year, one of the first from Delta Delta Delta women to be nationally recognized as a Woman of Influence.
Margaret loved to travel and had visited seventeen countries plus most of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Family, church, volunteer work and travel filled her life. “Don’t mourn for me. I have had a wonderful life, great experiences, a devoted family and many friends, plus good health. You learn from tragedies as well as good times.”
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, baby sister, brother, foster sister, her husband, oldest daughter who lived 14 1/2 years in a vegetative state, twin baby granddaughters, and her faithful companion, Cricket the cat. She is survived by her daughters, Jean Anne (Larry) Swanson Dungy and Martha Sue (Howard Wishman) Swanson; son-in-law, Melvin (Kathy) Wilson; grandchildren, Donald (Christina) Crook, Michael (Patty Johnson) Crook, Hawkeye Swanson Wilson, Brian (Heather) Crook, Sarah (Eric Brown) Wilson, Nicole (Levi Combs) Crook, Ted (Molly Ehm) Wilson, Jared (Adriane Young) Wishman and Mary Kate Wilson; thirteen great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Marjory Shanda.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, March 20, 2011, at Union Park Presbyterian Church, 1307 Thompson Avenue. Visitation will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice in loving memory of Margaret.
Online condolences may be sent to:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Frank and Teddy beard
03/23/2011
Margaret and Don were dear friends, personal as well as business.
We have great memories that we recall often.
Margaret was that special person that made life more meaningful
to us. We are sorry that we are in Arizora and was not able to
attend Her funeral service, but our prayers and thoughts were
there just the same.
Margaret will be missed by so many, for sure we are one of those.
Barbara Beving Henning
03/20/2011
When my mother, Lucille Beving, died in 2008, Margaret sent her greetings and condolences to me, which I greatly appreciated. She mentioned all the fond memories she had of both my parents. Not only did Don and my father practice law together, the two couples traveled together, especially to Mexico. There, according to my mother, they traded off on who fell ill with Montezuma's Revenge--but also had great times. I recall that when Don, her husband, died very suddenly, it was she who comforted the devastated lawyers in the firm. She was a source of great strength and I feel privileged to have known her. Now that I have returned to Iowa and live in Coralville, I regret not having come to Des Moines to visit her. My condolences to the Jeannie and Martha.
Jeffrey A. Weinstock
03/20/2011
Margaret was a wonderful lady. I knew her through the ICA as a council member. She will be missed by all of us in the ICA. My prayers got out to your family.
Debra S. Bettis
03/20/2011
I delivered the Des Moines Register to your parents for four years. I was always greeted with warmth and kindness. I lived on E. 8th Street and graduated from EHS in 1978. Your family was a hallmark of the Union Park neighborhood.
Carol Graney DeChant
03/20/2011
I didn't meet Margaret Swanson until 12 years ago, though we had much in common and she was a dear friend of my Aunt HIlda Miller, from Highland Pk Presbyterian Church. In the 1960s, the Swansons bought the home my sisters and I grew up in at 1624 Penn. Ave. We liked the idea that they too were a family of three girls then. Many years later, I heard many nice things about her from my East HS classmate Lyle Simpson.
Then twelve years ago I had a book published about growing up in Iowa and there was a signing at Holy Family Church. After my presentation, she walked up to me with a cane, and introduced herself. I was so honored and amazed that she had come out to a church where she didn't know anyone, to hear a woman speak she'd never met! She lived alone then, and acknowledged that the home was too big for her, but dreaded the idea of moving.
That meeting started a Christmas card/letter exchange, which continued through last Christmas with her hand-written greeting on a large notecard with a photo of two cats--I had come to know of her love for cats! She'd finally moved to a retirement home, and we'd had an ongoing exchange about what the new owners were doing to "our" house. I finally visited them, which led me to ask her many questions regarding the Swansons' decades in the home. One year she sent me an antique photo of "our" house with a Model T parked by the port-cochere. (I had never seen the changes the Swansons made, though she had graciously hosted my youngest sister through the house about 25 years before. Throughout the years before I met her, I found that everyone who knew Margaret Swanson had both a great respect and abiding affection for her. And then I was fortunate enough to discover why. May she rest in peace.
martha swanson
03/20/2011
I will miss my dear momma every day...I am grateful for the 31 year I had her in my life. I know she impacted and touched many lives by her selfless volunteering but her wisdom, kindness, caring, nurturing and love for her daughters (and husband) will be her greatest legacy. "Whoo hoo, momma, you had a GREAT ride!"
Beverly Hummel
03/19/2011
I met Margaret while I was employed at the Scienc Center of Ia. in the 90's & she was a lovely & most gracious person. Also, I met her daughter & it eas Martha (Marta) with a young sone & she was very special. Sending heartfelt sympathy at the loss of a fantastic lady.
Di Findley
03/19/2011
My condolences to Margaret's family. I will miss the breakfasts at Village Inn, the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and the late night phone conversations to recap the local news and political happenings. She was a great supporter of the Iowa CareGivers Association and I am so happy that we named an award for Margaret this year...appropriately named the "Margaret Swanson Legacy in Giving Award." I will miss my friend. Di
Mary Hansen Frye
03/19/2011
Our family would like to extend our sympathy as my Father, Roy Hansen, knew the Swansons from the time they came to Des Moines, and the workings of the law office.
My sister, Betty Hansen Shepard and her children, were very close friends to Margaret, supporting her through the long years her daughter's illness. They worked closely together through the Union Park community groups, the Botanical Center, the Garden Club, and all of the functions of the Union Park Presbyterian Church. I would see Margaret in action, and Betty would talk about all of the good things Margaret did. The community has lost an irreplacable lady.
Ken and Jane Shipley, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
03/18/2011
We had the pleasure of knowing Margaret through the Friendship Force of Greater Des Moines. She will be missed.
Anthony (Tony) C. Wells, CNA, Chpna & Mentor
03/18/2011
"Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be Great because Greatness is determined by service"
Martin Luther King, Jr.
I believe this Legacy of Service shell never be seen again....
Farewell Margaret, Farewell.
Carol Adkins
03/18/2011
I worked with Margaret with the
Moingona Girl Scout and she will be truely missed. There are no words to describe the love and devotion that she had for all people. My thoughts and pryaers are with you at this time of sorrow.
Nancy Franklin
03/17/2011
In the 12 years I have worked at Beving, Swanson & Forrest, Margaret has attended all the summer firm parties, Christmas parties, BS&F anniversaries and proudly sat with us for Anita's judgeship ceremony. Year after year on Professional Assistant's Day she has come and brought the staff Suzette's candies or beautiful greenhouse plants we could plant in our own gardens. I love and adore her. She was a wonderful person and I'm so sorry for all of her family that she has left us. She will always in my heart be missed, but never forgotten.
Cindy Ramer
03/17/2011
I have been a member of Iowa CareGivers Association for several years and I met and talked to Margaret many times. I enjoyed talking to her as she had a great understanding and appreciation for direct care staff. She was a great lady and I will miss getting to see and talk to her at our gatherings.
Sandi Glendy
03/18/2011
I've worked at Beving, Swanson & Forrest, P.C. for 9 years and always enjoyed seeing Martha come in as she was always so friendly and gracious. We will all miss her tremendously. Please accept my deepest sympathy.