John Oliver Swearson
June 7, 1948-May 1, 2008Article Photos
John grew up at the Swearson ranch home, five miles south of Towner. He went to Newport Elementary School and Towner High School, where he enjoyed participating in Football, FFA and Rodeo Club along with his many brothers and sisters and childhood friends. He suffered a traumatic head injury at a 1967 State High School rodeo in Beulah, North Dakota. After recovery, John entered the U.S. Army on July 11 1968, stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas with Company B 97th Engineer Battalion, Specialty Title, Power Generator Equipment Operator and Mechanic. Decorations and Medals: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Civic Action Medal 1st OLC, Vietnam Campaign, Vietnam Cross of Galantry, Marksman. He was honorably discharged from active duty on July 10, 1970.
John married Linda Bohl of Towner in 1971 and had four children, Daryl, Stephanie, Randy and Nicole. Throughout the remaining years of his life, John worked at various businesses as a general laborer in Towner, Fort Meade, South Dakota and Karlsruhe. John spent some years in assisted living homes in Hawley and Waite Park, Minnesota.
With a desire to be closer to his family as his mother was aging, John moved home to Towner and lived with his sister Jane the summer of 2007. During his last months of life he was able to spend time with his family, being there to celebrate his mother’s 84th birthday and the Thanksgiving holiday at the Long Term Care facility in Rugby. On December 1st, John and Jane were traveling together to join family and friends to celebrate their brother-in-law’s (Kent Ness) military retirement in Fargo. Under icy road conditions, they had a serious motor vehicle accident, suffering life threatening injuries.
For the last five months of his life, John was working through a courageous and progressive recovery at healthcare facilities in Fargo. He was transferred to the VA Hospital on January 14. Much love, prayers, encouragement and visits from family and friends saw him through amazing recovery and healing in those critical five months. Just as it seemed John was going to make a full recovery, his weary heart beat its last on the evening of May 1.
Survivors include: his mother, Agnes Swearson of Towner; sons, Daryl (Sarah) of Everett, WA, and Randy (Shelly Severtson) of Minot; daughters, Stephanie (Dan) Drovdal and Nicole (Tony) Kummer, all of Minot; eight grandchildren; brothers, Billy (Vicki) of Towner, Duane of Rugby, Carl (Anna) of Hillsboro, MO, Todd (Chris) of Glendale Heights, IL, Tim (Karen) of Towner and David (Marci) of Loma, CO; sisters, Jane Gunter, Judy Schell, Metta (Frank) Shell, all of Towner, Mary (Jim) Thom and Amy (Brad) Hofmann, both of Bismarck, and Dina (Kent) Ness of Fargo; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents.
Funeral services: Wednesday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Towner.
Burial: with military honors accorded by the Vernon T. Starks VFW Post 7067 and the American Legion Post # 34 - Honor & Color Guard of Towner, in Union Cemetery, Towner. Pastor Diane Krumm, officiating.
Friends may call: Today from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Towner and for one hour prior to the time of services at the Church on Wednesday.
Prayer service for family and friends: Tonight beginning at 7 in the funeral home.
