Bernard Swanson, 96, of Bowman, ND, formerly of Scranton, ND passed away on Friday, January 13, 2017 at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center in Bowman.
Funeral Services for Bernard will be on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church in Scranton. Pastor Mary Wiggins will officiate those services. There will also be a Funeral Service for Bernard on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel beginning at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Ron Olson will officiate with burial to follow in the Scranton Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 9-1 on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, from 1-4 at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Chapel and then again from 4-9 at the Funeral Home.

Karl Bernard Swanson was born on February 21, 1920 near Scranton, ND, the son of Theodore and Clara (Johnson) Swanson. He attended and graduated from Woodbury High School in 1937. Bernard attended Dickinson State for one year before moving to California on December 7, 1941 right before the bombing of Pearl Harbor where he would work on aircrafts on a Defense Plant for the United States. He returned home to Scranton to take care of family and the family farm when his brother Clifford was drafted into the 6th Army Infantry during WWII. Bernard was united in marriage to Elaine Hedman in November of 1951 at the Peace Lutheran Church in Scranton. Three children were born to this union: Gwen, Paul and Duane. They made their home on a farm north of Scranton, building a house that was later moved east of Bowman.

Throughout his life, he farmed for many years and also worked construction with Martian Rolfsness and Norris Wahl. He was member of the Cedar Lutheran Church where he served on the council and also a member of the Peace Lutheran Church. He also served on the board that organized the Bowman/Slope Rural Telephone Corporation or now known as Consolidated. He also served on the Sunset Home board for 8 years where he was the Chairman for 2 of those years. Bernard was a very kind and gentle man who could be found with a smile on his face and ready to visit with you. He will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.

Bernard is survived by his sons; Paul Vicky) Swanson and Duane (Santha) Swanson, grandchildren; Lindsey, Elizabeth, Amanda, Lisa, Kendra, Conner and Chase; eight great grandchildren, sisters, Ruby Reiner and Ruth VanEe and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Theo and Clara, wife, Elaine, brother, Clifford, daughter, Gwen Vetter, son-in-law, Lynn Vetter and great-grand daughter, Chanel Blair.
Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Services in charge of the arrangements.