Betty Lou Swanson

Betty Lou (Arnold) Swanson, 95, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2023 at Ascension Hospital in Rochester, Michigan surrounded by her loving family. Betty was born December 23, 1927 in Plymouth, Michigan to Dale Eugene and Alice Frances (Gustin) Arnold. She grew up in Plymouth, where she graduated from Plymouth High School. She went on to Eastern Michigan University, where she graduated with a degree in Education. Betty worked as a special education teacher before becoming a full-time homemaker.

On August 19, 1950, Betty married Richard Wayne Swanson, who became her lifelong loving partner. She and Richard had nine children, raising eight to adulthood in Plymouth. They retired to Elk Lake in Rapid City, Michigan in 1983. Betty and Richard enjoyed the "Snowbirds" lifestyle and spent winters in the Fort Lauderdale area of Florida and summers on Elk Lake. Betty was an active volunteer at her churches in Plymouth, Michigan, Elk Rapids, Michigan, and Dania, Florida, and worked briefly in the field of special education again, but her biggest achievement was managing a large household and raising eight children. Her love for her eight children was without limit and she and Richard modeled a beautiful loving Christian marriage and faith. Later, Betty was blessed with seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Betty's love for her entire family was unconditional. She was truly loyal, her family meant everything to her, and she always put family first.

Betty loved to travel with family and enjoyed multiple cruises and traveling extensively throughout the United States and Canada. One very memorable trip was taking her entire family on a ten-day Alaskan Cruise. She also loved Walt Disney World and spent many memorable vacations in the Disney theme parks with her family. Betty always looked forward to the annual Swanson Family Reunions on Elk Lake each summer. Growing up, one of Betty's favorite memories were the summers she spent in Oklahoma with her extended family. Her favorite times were when her whole family was all together.

Betty is survived by her adoring children, Mary (Mark) Pincumbe, Katherine (Michael) Duvendeck, Barbara Swanson, James (Heidi) Swanson, Mark (Claudia) Swanson, Stephen Swanson, and Nancy (Jeff) Ennis; and grandchildren Sarah (Brandon) Folks, Elizabeth (Robert) Parsons, Tyler Swanson, Emily Swanson, Jacob Ennis, Hailey Swanson, and Ryan Ennis; and great-grandchildren Adam Folks and Hannah Folks. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dale Arnold and Alice (Gustin) Arnold, husband, Richard Wayne Swanson, sons, William Harold and Richard Dale, and brother Charles Alvin Arnold. The memorial service for Betty will be held on Sunday, February 19, at Journey Lutheran Church, 136 South Washington Street, Oxford, Michigan. Visitation will take place at 1:30 pm, with the memorial service following at 2:00 pm. Christian burial will be at historic Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth, Michigan.

Memorials may be given to the Salvation Army or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society . Betty’s family is so very grateful for her long life, her generosity of spirit, her wit, and most of all her abundant love, and are thankful for the support of so many friends and family who cherished Betty, as they did.