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Richard 'Rick' D. Swanson
Nikiski resident Richard "Rick" D. Swanson died, Wednesday, Dec.
3, 2003, of natural causes at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He
was 39.
Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 8, at North Kenai Baptist Church. Pastor Denver Copeland will
officiate. Mr. Swanson's ashes will be scattered at Tustumena Lake at a later
date.
Mr. Swanson was born Sept. 23, 1964, in
Springfield, Ore., where he attended Lowell High School in Lowell, Ore., before
transferring to Pleasant Hill High School in Pleasant Hill, Ore. He attended the
Honda Technician School in California in 1991.
Mr. Swanson joined the U.S. Army in 1983 and
was honorably discharged. He moved to Nikiski in 1991 and worked for Ron's
Honda, Craig Taylor, VECO and Davis Block before he started his own business ‹
Rick's Cycle in Nikiski. Mr. Swanson was the den leader for the Boy Scouts No.
357 and assisted with Team Tesoro activities often. He enjoyed snowmachining,
camping, fishing and kayaking, motorcycles and mowing the lawn.
"Rick had a passion for repairing things,
especially motorcycles. He was always willing to take on a project for a friend,
or anyone who needed his help. Rick's family was his life, he cherished the time
he spent with them.
"He enjoyed a good paint-ball fight, wrestling
match or snow machine ride. Just having the opportunity to be with them and
their friends was most important to him. Rick was very proud of the fact he was
able to share his mechanical talents with his boys and never missed a chance to
supervise a project," his family said.
"His children were not only the apple of their
father's eye, but also his strength and comfort as his health began to decline.
Rick's entire family will miss his antics and teasing, but most of all they will
miss the son, husband, father and brother that they loved very much."
Mr. Swanson was preceded in death by his
stepfather, Dave Fullerton; grandparents, Paul and Mary Collier; and uncle,
Jerry Collier.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Shannon
Swanson of Nikiski; sons, Ryan A., Chris A. and David J. Swanson, all of
Nikiski; mother, Jo Ann Howser of Sun River, Ore.; father, Ron Swanson of
Kasilof; brothers, Bill Fullerton of Junction City, Ore., Jared Swanson of
Kenai, Travis and Justin Swanson, both of Portland, Ore.; sisters, Sherri
Needham of Montrose, Colo., and Toni Fullerton of Oregon; grandmother, Ganelle
Swanson of Eugene, Ore.; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and
close friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to the Swanson Family, c/o First National Bank of Alaska, account no.
30308308, 11408 Kenai Spur Highway, Kenai, AK 99611.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial
Chapel.
Source: Peninsula Clarion,
December 7, 2003
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