Roselea Lamar (Morrell) Swanson

Roselea Lamar Swanson, 88, lifelong Arthur resident, went to her home in heaven on April 17, 2016, at Indian Hills Healthcare Community in Ogallala.

Roselea was born August 5, 1927, in a sod home in northwest Arthur County, Nebraska.. the daughter of Roy and Myrtle (Young) Morrell. She moved with her family into Arthur at the age of nine years. She graduated as Valedictorian of her class of 1944 at the Arthur County High School.

After Roselea earned her elementary teacher's certificate she taught school three years in Arthur County. She attended Chadron State College one summer to renew her certificate for another three years. She worked in several businesses in Arthur as she grew up and spent one summer in Kearney working at the Air Base and later working in Norman, Okla. in an office at the Naval Base.

On June 6, 1947 Roselea eloped with Virgil Swanson to Brush, Colo. and they began a wonderful 52 years together. Virgil had been in the Navy in World War II so was undecided about what they should do and when Waldo Haythorn hired him to be a 'cowboy' that made up his mind. The rest of their lives they were dedicated to ranch work with all the family helping. Two sons, Allen and Kirk, and one daughter Jodene came to make their family complete.

Virgil loved horses and when he was gone the boys helped Roselea. They had moved into Arthur from the Jim Nielson Ranch in 1980. Roselea began working for the Arthur Co-op Bank in 1982 and then for the branch bank of Keystone located in Arthur. She retired in August of 2007 after 25 enjoyable years.

She was a longtime member of the Arthur Baptist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher, deaconess, and treasurer of the Baptist Women and the Hospitality Committee. She also served on the Fair Board, Library Board, and the election board.

Her hobbies included reading, dancing, crossword puzzles, and playing cards. She played the harmonica and enjoyed all kinds of music. Roselea especially enjoyed her grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's activities.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Virgil in March, 1999, nine brothers: Robert, Elmer, Edward, Roy, Guy, Noble, William, Harry, and Joseph; and four sisters: Emily Robb, Avis Rasmussen, Margaret Cross, and Marian Leiser.

Survivors include two sons Allen (Joy) Swanson and Kirk (Becky) Swanson, all of Arthur; and one daughter Jodene and her husband Ted Kramer of Ogallala; eight grandchildren: Hank, Tory, Brandon, Robyn, Mark, Jamie, Heather , and Justin; and 15 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law Joyce Morrell of Ogallala; and a host of relatives and friends.

The Visitation will be Thursday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 4 to 6 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home.

The Funeral Service will be Friday, April 22, at 2 p.m. in the Arthur Baptist Church with Rev. Ben Keene officiating. The Service will be live streamed from drauckerfuneralhome.com, for those unable to attend. Interment is in the Arthur Cemetery.

Memorials have been established to the Arthur Baptist Church, Arthur Betterment Authority, and to the American Legion for Boys and Girls State.

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