Lois Mae Swanson

Lois Mae Swanson, age 91, passed away of natural causes on September 17, 2020, in her home in Bentonville, Ark. Lois was born on October 27, 1928, in St. Louis, Mo., to Corwin and Neola Jennings. Lois was the eldest daughter in a family of nine children: Franklin, Melvin, Ralph, William, Sue, Ellen, Robert, and Thomas. During most of her girlhood, the family lived in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Lois graduated from Poplar Bluff High School. At the age of 20, she married the love of her life, Elmer Swanson, on April 10, 1949, in Baden, Mo. The one word that sums up Lois' life is devotion. Lois devoted all of her early married life to raising her six children: David, Gary, Sue, Sally, Kathleen, and Robert, moving from High Ridge, Mo., to Overland Park, Kan., in 1961 for Elmer's new position at AT&T as an electrical engineer. After raising their children, Lois and Elmer moved to Excelsior Springs, Mo., and soon devoted their lives to their Christian faith as active members of Lawson Assembly of God. During this time Lois became a licensed minister of the Assemblies of God church. Elmer and Lois both taught adult Sunday School classes, and led worship in an area nursing home, with Lois delivering a message from Scripture and Elmer playing hymns on the piano. They were a great team! When Elmer retired, they relocated to Bella Vista, Ark., and continued their ministry teaching and serving while attending the Bella Vista Assembly of God Church. After Elmer went to his heavenly home in 1999, Lois made several pilgrimages to Israel, working one summer in Jerusalem with the Bridges for Peace ministry. The entire family owes a special debt of gratitude to Gary and Sarah Swanson, who devoted their lives caring for their mother as a widow. For the past two decades, they have supported her in selfless dedication to her spiritual and physical well-being. As her ability to live independently declined, they stood in the gap. They gave Lois the gift of living and dying in her own home. Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; her eldest son, David, her parents, four brothers: Franklin, Melvin, Ralph and Robert, and her in-laws, Dorotha Jennings and Richard Underwood. Lois is survived by her daughter-in-law, Karen Swanson; her son, Gary, and his wife, Sarah; her daughter, Sue Zuroweste, and her husband, Bob; her daughter, Sally Sheets, and her husband, J; her daughter, Kathy Cerceo, and her husband, Ron; her son, Robert, and his wife, Tina. As her legacy, Lois leaves her 18 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She was blessed in her life by numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Lois devoted her life to her large family, her many friends and her faith. Lois is now reunited for eternity with her dear husband in the holy presence of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A visitation will be held at the Bella Vista Assembly of God on October 3, 2020 at 10 a.m., with a memorial service to immediately follow at 11 a.m. Memorial Contributions may be made in Lois' honor to the Bella Vista Assembly of God Church. To place an online tribute, please visit www.stockdalemoody.com.