George Swanson, 91
George Clifford Swanson, 91, passed away peacefully Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Sandpoint, Idaho, with his daughter Julie at his side.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Kootenai Community Church, 477 Main St., Kootenai, Idaho. He will be laid to rest, next to his wife Juanita, in the Lee Mission Cemetery in Salem, Ore.
George was born on February 3, 1933, in Helena, Mont., to George V. and Sylvia (Bazinet) Swanson. He attended Helena schools and graduated in 1951. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Korea.
Back home, he attended Montana State University in Missoula, graduating in June 1959 with a BS in business administration. By September he had accepted a job as a management trainee with Carnation Milk Company in Spokane, Wash. His career with Carnation spanned 45 years, taking him from Spokane to Sunnyside, Wash., to Oakland, Calif., and from a trainee to branch manager and comptroller.
George met Juanita June Denbeigh Howell while both were working for Carnation in Spokane and they married there Sept. 23, 1961.
Most of their married life they lived in Pleasanton, Calif., where they were active in the Valley Community Church and George was able to indulge in his love of all things outdoors — hunting, fishing, hiking, and skiing. After retirement, they continued traveling and spending time with family, especially their growing tribe of grandchildren.
In 2010, they moved to Keizer, Ore., to live near their daughter Margot and her husband, Douglas. After Juanita's death in March 2020, George moved to Ponderay, Idaho, to live with his daughter, Julie.
George is survived by his daughters, Nancie (Bob) Willey of Centralia, Wash., Julie Martin of Ponderay, Margot (Douglas) Rodgers of Salem, Ore.; daughter-in-law Colleen Howell of Goldendale, Wash.; 19 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; niece, Laura (Bruce) Day of Bremerton; and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Juanita; son Dr. Gregory Howell; daughter Paula Howell; son-in-law Stan Martin; great-granddaughter Grace Moerke; sister and brother-in-law, Flo and Bill Anderson; and niece Vicky Spore.
In lieu of flowers, we suggest a donation to the Sandpoint Senior Center, 820 Main St., Sandpoint, ID 83864.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint, Idaho is handling the arrangements. Please visit George's online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guestbook.