Ronald Eugene Swan

May 11, 1943 — December 17, 2015

Ronald E. Swan of Kerkhoven, age 72, died Thursday, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. Funeral Services will be 1:00 PM, Tuesday, December 22, 2015, with visitation from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson, MN. Burial will be in the Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the Kerkhoven Ambulance or Minneapolis VA Healthcare Systems “Fisher Fund”.

Ronald Eugene Swan was born May 11, 1943, in Slayton Township, Murray County, Minnesota, to Gordon Earl and Ada Luella (Indall) Swan. He grew up in Slayton, Minnesota; Canton, South Dakota; and Milbank, South Dakota, graduating from Milbank High School in 1961. He lived in San Diego, California and served in the United States Marine Corp from 1962 – 1971, during the Vietnam Era, with two deployments to Japan and Vietnam. On August 22, 1964, Ron was united in marriage to Geraldine Hamann in St. Paul, Minnesota. They were blessed with more than 51 years of marriage. On July 11, 1979 they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Angelyn Marie. From 1971 – 1997 they lived in rural Chippewa, Kandiyohi, and Swift counties where Ron worked as a welder and hobby farmer. They moved to Kerkhoven in 1997 and Ron continued to work as a welder until his retirement in 2008, when he began helping babysit his grandkids until they started school. He enjoyed hobby farming, hunting, traveling, target shooting, working outdoors, riding horse, Nascar, and spending time with his grandkids.

Ron passed away Thursday, December 17, 2015, at the Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. He attained 72 years, 7 months, and 6 days of age.

Ron is survived by his wife, Geraldine of Kerkhoven; daughter, Angelyn (Eric) Tolifson of Benson; grandchildren, Ashten and Elsie Tolifson; brother, Michael (Angelina) Swan of Lake Worth, FL; brothers-in-law: Ronald (Gen) Hamann of Isabella, MO, Donald (Mary) Hamann of Elizabeth, AR, and Dale Hamann of St. Paul, MN; sister-in-law, Donna (Earl) Longendyke of Butler, TN; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Ada Swan; brother, Leland Swan; and sister, Penny Nord.

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Ronald Eugene Swan

May 11, 1943 — December 17, 2015

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