Lawrence Gordon Swanson
April 11, 1926 - October 8, 2014
Lawrence was a loving, devoted husband to Helen; beloved brother to Doris Nissen of Qualicum Beach; proud and supportive father to Linda (John) Webber of Kamloops, Bevan (Bonnie Franklin) Swanson of Abbotsford, Richard Swanson of 108 Mile House and Lori Steiner (Dan) of Sechelt; grandfather to Brett (Kaoru) Webber, Bonnie (Martin) Scherrer, Chad Swanson, Ryan (Aubrey Walsh) Swanson and Drew (Angie) Swanson; and the “twinkles in his eye”, his great grandchildren Jayde, Samuel, Elise, Masaya, Mason and Austin, as well as other family members and friends. Dad was predeceased by his father and mother William and Emma Swanson, 9 brothers, 1 sister, and daughter-in-law Margaret Swanson. Dad was born the 10th child in a family of 12 children on the family farm in Ridgedale, BC, a quiet rural corner of Matsqui. He first spied our mother Helen Bontron at the old Matsqui Station and was smitten for life. After their marriage in 1946, they worked the family farm with his brother Len. For Dad, the naming of Swanson Road (now Street) in Ridgedale was an enormous point of pride. In 1964, when their youngest child Lori was a year old, they sold the farm and moved to a house on York Avenue in Abbotsford, where they spent the next 47 years. Lawrence was first a dairy farmer and secondly a carpenter by trade. He was employed by Croisdale Construction and by Matsqui and Abbotsford School District. He built houses, barns, bowling alleys, theaters, etc. His hands laboured on many projects in the Matsqui and Abbotsford areas. Recently, a caregiver recognized Dad as the man who, four decades prior, had saved the roof of her family’s home from collapsing during a major snowstorm on Sumas Prairie. This acknowledgment deeply touched him. Later, Dad became a Field Supervisor at Snowcrest Frozen Foods working alongside his brothers John, Len, Walt and Bill. Dad served as a member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge for 50 years (including 1 year as Grand Master of BC) in Mission and Chilliwack. Dad truly enjoyed the fellowship of his lodge. Our father was a kind and gentle man and always said it was his children that mattered to him most. His devotion to Mom as he cared for her at home after her dementia became apparent and,later, his consistent visits to the care facility, demonstrated his selfless love for her. We will miss his patience, wit & humour; until we meet again, Dad…….
Our families would like to express their deepest and sincerest appreciation to Lawrence’s daughter- n-law, Bonnie and his son Bevan, who guided and assisted dad over the past 4 years; you both meant the world to him. There will be no service per Dad’s request. In lieu of flowers donations are gratefully accepted to BC Children’s Hospital. Online condolences to the family may be made to www.wiebeandjeskefh.com
Wiebe & Jeske - 604.859.5885