Margaret A. 'Peg' Swanson, 96

Margaret A. Swanson passed away Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, at The Springs at Whitefish (Riverside Senior Living), where she had resided for the past six years.

Peg was born in Chicago on June 26, 1912, to Edwin and Ruth Smith. She moved with her family to San Diego when she was 16 years old.

In 1931, she married Eskil "Skull" Swanson in San Diego, and they happily celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary in June 2007.

Their love of fishing and the outdoors brought them to Montana. With her husband and family, she moved to Whitefish in 1955 where she had made her home ever since.

She was a member of the Mountain View Rebecca Lodge No. 78 of Whitefish for more than 50 years. She had transferred her membership from San Diego after several years of membership there.

Peg was an avid bowler for many years. She gardened and canned what she grew, enjoyed camping and fishing, loved to play games of all sorts, and did jigsaw and crossword puzzles. She did beautiful crocheting and, at 90 years, made a bedspread.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Skull, on April 6, 2008; a sister, Eleanor Robeson; and one brother, Roy Smith.

Peg is survived by one sister, Betty Starks, of Jamestown, Calif.; four children, Bonnie and husband, Joe Howerton, of San Diego, Darlene and husband, James Gauthier, of Tendoy, Idaho, Lee and wife, Karen Swanson, of Roseville, Calif., and Judy and husband, Lyle Phillips, of Whitefish; 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. Grandchildren surviving her locally are Penny Simpson, Taunja Wagner and Ty Phillips, great-grandchildren, Caleb Simpson and Abby Wagner, and great-great-grandchild, Avery Simpson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, at Riverside Senior Living.

Cremation was handled by Austin Funeral Home of Whitefish.