Swenson_Sheila Ann_ 27, July 1942
RUPERT_Sheila Ann Colton Swenson died March 6, 2010, at the age of 67, after a valiant battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family. Sheila was born July 27, 1942 in Malad City, Idaho to Thomas Colton and Genavie Wakely Colton. She attended and graduated from Malad High School, and received an associate’s degree from the LDS business college. She married Mont Alan Swenson on March 22, 1963. Together they moved to St. Louis, MO. where they welcomed a son named Michael. The family moved to Chickasha, Okla., where they added a daughter they named Michelle. They then progressed to Allentown, Pa., where a second daughter, Jennifer, was born. Alan then took a job in Twin Falls where two more sons, Jeffrey and Gregory were born. Several years later, Alan was transferred to Rupert where the family has remained for 30 years.
After Greg started school, Sheila took a position with the Minidoka County School District. She worked as a substitute teacher, a special education teacher and a secretary at Big Valley Elementary. She loved working with children and was loved by both the children and her colleagues.
Sheila was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was sealed to her dear husband in the Salt Lake Temple on July 7, 1964. She served in many capacities in the church, including the stake Relief Society, Primary, Young Women and most recent temple worker in the Twin Falls Temple. She loved the young women of the church and had a special relationship with the youth she worked with.
In her free time, Sheila loved to work in her yard and had a wealth of knowledge about plants and flowers. She enjoyed reading and sewing, and recently finished quilts for her granddaughters for Christmas. Sheila and Alan enjoyed enjoyed the company of great friends and loved to spend time talking, laughing, reminiscing and traveling with them. Perhaps her favorite thing was to spend time with her grandchildren. She was a devoted and loving grandmother and formed a special bond with each of her grandchildren.
Sheila is survived by her husband, Alan Swenson of Rupert; her children, Michael (Ingrid) Swenson of Vancouver, Wash., Michelle (Scott) Rasmussen of Grace, Jennifer (Michael) Tilley of Burley, Jeffrey (Shalene) Swenson of Rupert, Gregory (Ashlee) Swenson of Roy, Utah; and 15 grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, Tom Colton of Malad. She was preceded in death by her parents.
The family wishes to thank Brandi Boston Minidoka Home Health and Hospice, Dr. Lane Hansen and the staff at Minidoka Memorial Hospital, and the many friends and loved ones who have shown their unconditional love and support to Sheila and her family.
A viewing will be held from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, March 9, at the Hansen Mortuary in Rupert. Funeral services will be held the following morning at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 10, at the Rupert Stake Center.