Diane Swanson

Diane E. Swanson, 81, of Kragnes, MN, died on Monday, June 26, 2017, in Eventide, Fargo, ND.

Diane Eloise Gray was born July 22, 1935, the daughter of Lyle and Mildred (Lidstrom) Gray, in Bismarck, ND. As a young girl, she moved with her family to St. Paul, MN, and at the age of thirteen her family moved to Moorhead. She attended the campus school at Moorhead State Teachers College graduating in 1953. Diane then attended Moorhead State Teachers College graduating in 1958.

On August 31, 1958, she was united in marriage to Alvin Swanson at the First Congregational Church in Moorhead. They moved to a farm, where Alvin grew up near Kragnes, MN, and continued to farm the land while raising their five children.

They were members of the nearby Oak Mound Church where Diane was active in the church Ladies Aid and taught Sunday School for many years. She was a leader of the Oak Mound 4-H Club where her children were involved, the Acorn Homemakers Club, and the Oak Mound Community Club. Over the years, Diane and Alvin's grandchildren provided many ball games and programs for them to attend and enjoy.

Diane liked to shop, play 65 with her friends, care for her vegetable and flower gardens, and sew. Some of her sewing creations, along with her flowers, were exhibited at the county fair. She also enjoyed the family trips to Medora, ND. Most of all she was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, and enjoyed the time spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Alvin; children, Lynne (Lynden) Mohler, Moorhead, Julie (Dale) Veselka, Tower City, ND, Carla (Craig) Hurner, Glyndon, MN, David (Cindy) Swanson and Greg Swanson, both Kragnes; grandchildren, Janice Mohler, Tim Veselka, Cody (Nicole) Veselka, Allison Veselka, Daniel (Hannah) Hurner, Ashley, Reid and Josiah Hurner, Ryan, Alex and Noah Swanson, and Amy, Erica and Katie Swanson; great-grandchildren, Reese and Reagan Veselka, and Eloise and Adelynn Hurner; sisters-in-law, Gerry Gray, St. Cloud, MN, and Carol (Wally) Thomas, Moorhead; and brother-in-law, Roger Sorenson, Fisher, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Richard Gray; nephew, Bruce Gray; and sister-in-law, Janet Sorenson.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of the Red River Valley or Oak Mound Cemetery Assn.

A Visitation for Diane will be one hour prior to her funeral service.

Her Funeral Service will be Friday, June 30, 2017, at 2:00 PM, in First Congregational United Church of Christ, Fargo.

Interment will be in Oak Mound Cemetery, rural Kragnes, MN.

(Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead, MN)