Ordean Nolan Swanson (Jiggs) was born December 17, 1930, to parents Thomas and Petra (Haugen) on the family farm in Clover township, north of Leonard, MN. He passed away peacefully on November 8th, 2022 on the same farm surrounded by his family. Ordean attended the rural Clover school until age 13, when he joined his Uncle Adolph Westby, logging in the woods of Clover. Uncle Adolph was the one who gave him his nickname- Jiggs. Ordean loved the woods. One of his favorite winter hobbies was heading to the swamp to cut cedar and check on how the deer were doing.
When Ordean was 21 years old, he joined the largest group of recruits to ever leave from Clearwater County at one time. He and twenty-one young men headed out to help the war effort in Korea. Ordean trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and then shipped out to Korea where he served in the Army Engineers Corp. He operated heavy equipment, building roads and bunkers for tanks and big guns. In November 1953 he received his honorable discharge and returned to Clover. At his death he was the longest continuous member of the Clearbrook American Legion. In May of 2019, Ordean traveled to Washington, D.C. As part of the Veterans Honor Flight. It was a highlight for Ordean to travel with other veterans, see the memorials and receive the recognition and appreciation from so many people.
From the mid 50's until the 70's Ordean worked as a heavy equipment operator building roads and even working on the missile silos in North Dakota. Ordean married the love of his life, Leone Walberg, on July 27, 1956. They were blessed with three daughters. For the first few years they split their time between North Dakota where Ordean worked and the farm in Clover Township. Over time they built up the farm, buying more land and raising beef cattle. Ordean quit working on the road and worked for Arctic Cat in Clearbrook, and then Clearwater Rice in addition to the farm. Ordean and Leone always had a big garden and lots of apple trees, that kept them well fed in addition to the animals they raised.
Ordean was an early snowmobile fan and spent countless hours riding trails with his friends. In retirement, Ordean and Leone traveled often. They visited all the states with the exception of Alaska and the New England area. The liked to take the Mini-Winnie and camp with friends and family, often attending blue grass or country music festivals.
Ordean was a man of strong Christian faith. He attended the Faith Bible Chapel of Clover and then later was an active member of First Baptist Church in Clearbrook. He was always soft spoken and was known' for being gentle and kind. He was wonderful with children as his own children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will attest. When he would arrive at his daughter Susan's daycare all the little ones would coming running with arms up and a chorus of "Grandpa, Grandpa!"
His roots ran deep in Clover. He was born and passed to be with the lord on the same piece of land. He knew every foot of the farm. He planted thousands of trees over the years, he said he wanted to make sure his girls always had plenty of Christmas trees to choose from. He would cut a load of trees each Christmas and Leone would pick her favorite from the kitchen window. He would then deliver trees to friends and often provided the tree for the girls or grandsons classroom. He taught his grandsons to hunt and to appreciate the land. Hunting season was a big holiday at the Swanson farm. Even after he quit hunting, he enjoyed hunting season and sharing hunting stories with the boys. In recent years he waited to see what Allie and Emmy, his great granddaughters, would bring down during the season.
Ordean is survived by his wife of 66 years Leone, daughters Nancy (Rick) Vyskocil and Susan Duquette. Grandsons Tony (Sarah) Duquette and Nolan Ettish. Great grandchildren, Allison and Emily Duquette and Addison and Wyatt Ettish. Ordean was also survived by his sister, Aileen Erickson and many nieces and nephews. Ordean was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Lisa, his parents Tom and Petra Swanson, Sisters Mildred Ballard, Mavis Erickson, Jean Fuchs, and Brothers Laverne' (Bucky) Swanson, Newell Swanson and Larry Swanson.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota with a visitation one hour prior. A visitation will also be held the evening before on Friday, November 18, 2022 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, MN. Interment will be held Clover Cemetery in Leonard, MN. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
In leu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Veteran's Honor Flight, Sanford Hospice, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or plant a tree in his memory.
When Ordean was 21 years old, he joined the largest group of recruits to ever leave from Clearwater County at one time. He and twenty-one young men headed out to help the war effort in Korea. Ordean trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and then shipped out to Korea where he served in the Army Engineers Corp. He operated heavy equipment, building roads and bunkers for tanks and big guns. In November 1953 he received his honorable discharge and returned to Clover. At his death he was the longest continuous member of the Clearbrook American Legion. In May of 2019, Ordean traveled to Washington, D.C. As part of the Veterans Honor Flight. It was a highlight for Ordean to travel with other veterans, see the memorials and receive the recognition and appreciation from so many people.
From the mid 50's until the 70's Ordean worked as a heavy equipment operator building roads and even working on the missile silos in North Dakota. Ordean married the love of his life, Leone Walberg, on July 27, 1956. They were blessed with three daughters. For the first few years they split their time between North Dakota where Ordean worked and the farm in Clover Township. Over time they built up the farm, buying more land and raising beef cattle. Ordean quit working on the road and worked for Arctic Cat in Clearbrook, and then Clearwater Rice in addition to the farm. Ordean and Leone always had a big garden and lots of apple trees, that kept them well fed in addition to the animals they raised.
Ordean was an early snowmobile fan and spent countless hours riding trails with his friends. In retirement, Ordean and Leone traveled often. They visited all the states with the exception of Alaska and the New England area. The liked to take the Mini-Winnie and camp with friends and family, often attending blue grass or country music festivals.
Ordean was a man of strong Christian faith. He attended the Faith Bible Chapel of Clover and then later was an active member of First Baptist Church in Clearbrook. He was always soft spoken and was known' for being gentle and kind. He was wonderful with children as his own children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will attest. When he would arrive at his daughter Susan's daycare all the little ones would coming running with arms up and a chorus of "Grandpa, Grandpa!"
His roots ran deep in Clover. He was born and passed to be with the lord on the same piece of land. He knew every foot of the farm. He planted thousands of trees over the years, he said he wanted to make sure his girls always had plenty of Christmas trees to choose from. He would cut a load of trees each Christmas and Leone would pick her favorite from the kitchen window. He would then deliver trees to friends and often provided the tree for the girls or grandsons classroom. He taught his grandsons to hunt and to appreciate the land. Hunting season was a big holiday at the Swanson farm. Even after he quit hunting, he enjoyed hunting season and sharing hunting stories with the boys. In recent years he waited to see what Allie and Emmy, his great granddaughters, would bring down during the season.
Ordean is survived by his wife of 66 years Leone, daughters Nancy (Rick) Vyskocil and Susan Duquette. Grandsons Tony (Sarah) Duquette and Nolan Ettish. Great grandchildren, Allison and Emily Duquette and Addison and Wyatt Ettish. Ordean was also survived by his sister, Aileen Erickson and many nieces and nephews. Ordean was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Lisa, his parents Tom and Petra Swanson, Sisters Mildred Ballard, Mavis Erickson, Jean Fuchs, and Brothers Laverne' (Bucky) Swanson, Newell Swanson and Larry Swanson.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota with a visitation one hour prior. A visitation will also be held the evening before on Friday, November 18, 2022 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, MN. Interment will be held Clover Cemetery in Leonard, MN. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
In leu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Veteran's Honor Flight, Sanford Hospice, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or plant a tree in his memory.
Ordean Nolan Swanson (Jiggs) was born December 17, 1930, to parents Thomas and Petra (Haugen) on the family farm in Clover township, north of Leonard, MN. He passed away peacefully on November 8th, 2022 on the same farm surrounded by his family. Ordean attended the rural Clover school until age 13, when he joined his Uncle Adolph Westby, logging in the woods of Clover. Uncle Adolph was the one who gave him his nickname- Jiggs. Ordean loved the woods. One of his favorite winter hobbies was heading to the swamp to cut cedar and check on how the deer were doing.
When Ordean was 21 years old, he joined the largest group of recruits to ever leave from Clearwater County at one time. He and twenty-one young men headed out to help the war effort in Korea. Ordean trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and then shipped out to Korea where he served in the Army Engineers Corp. He operated heavy equipment, building roads and bunkers for tanks and big guns. In November 1953 he received his honorable discharge and returned to Clover. At his death he was the longest continuous member of the Clearbrook American Legion. In May of 2019, Ordean traveled to Washington, D.C. As part of the Veterans Honor Flight. It was a highlight for Ordean to travel with other veterans, see the memorials and receive the recognition and appreciation from so many people.
From the mid 50's until the 70's Ordean worked as a heavy equipment operator building roads and even working on the missile silos in North Dakota. Ordean married the love of his life, Leone Walberg, on July 27, 1956. They were blessed with three daughters. For the first few years they split their time between North Dakota where Ordean worked and the farm in Clover Township. Over time they built up the farm, buying more land and raising beef cattle. Ordean quit working on the road and worked for Arctic Cat in Clearbrook, and then Clearwater Rice in addition to the farm. Ordean and Leone always had a big garden and lots of apple trees, that kept them well fed in addition to the animals they raised.
Ordean was an early snowmobile fan and spent countless hours riding trails with his friends. In retirement, Ordean and Leone traveled often. They visited all the states with the exception of Alaska and the New England area. The liked to take the Mini-Winnie and camp with friends and family, often attending blue grass or country music festivals.
Ordean was a man of strong Christian faith. He attended the Faith Bible Chapel of Clover and then later was an active member of First Baptist Church in Clearbrook. He was always soft spoken and was known' for being gentle and kind. He was wonderful with children as his own children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will attest. When he would arrive at his daughter Susan's daycare all the little ones would coming running with arms up and a chorus of "Grandpa, Grandpa!"
His roots ran deep in Clover. He was born and passed to be with the lord on the same piece of land. He knew every foot of the farm. He planted thousands of trees over the years, he said he wanted to make sure his girls always had plenty of Christmas trees to choose from. He would cut a load of trees each Christmas and Leone would pick her favorite from the kitchen window. He would then deliver trees to friends and often provided the tree for the girls or grandsons classroom. He taught his grandsons to hunt and to appreciate the land. Hunting season was a big holiday at the Swanson farm. Even after he quit hunting, he enjoyed hunting season and sharing hunting stories with the boys. In recent years he waited to see what Allie and Emmy, his great granddaughters, would bring down during the season.
Ordean is survived by his wife of 66 years Leone, daughters Nancy (Rick) Vyskocil and Susan Duquette. Grandsons Tony (Sarah) Duquette and Nolan Ettish. Great grandchildren, Allison and Emily Duquette and Addison and Wyatt Ettish. Ordean was also survived by his sister, Aileen Erickson and many nieces and nephews. Ordean was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Lisa, his parents Tom and Petra Swanson, Sisters Mildred Ballard, Mavis Erickson, Jean Fuchs, and Brothers Laverne' (Bucky) Swanson, Newell Swanson and Larry Swanson.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota with a visitation one hour prior. A visitation will also be held the evening before on Friday, November 18, 2022 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, MN. Interment will be held Clover Cemetery in Leonard, MN. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
In leu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Veteran's Honor Flight, Sanford Hospice, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or plant a tree in his memory.
When Ordean was 21 years old, he joined the largest group of recruits to ever leave from Clearwater County at one time. He and twenty-one young men headed out to help the war effort in Korea. Ordean trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and then shipped out to Korea where he served in the Army Engineers Corp. He operated heavy equipment, building roads and bunkers for tanks and big guns. In November 1953 he received his honorable discharge and returned to Clover. At his death he was the longest continuous member of the Clearbrook American Legion. In May of 2019, Ordean traveled to Washington, D.C. As part of the Veterans Honor Flight. It was a highlight for Ordean to travel with other veterans, see the memorials and receive the recognition and appreciation from so many people.
From the mid 50's until the 70's Ordean worked as a heavy equipment operator building roads and even working on the missile silos in North Dakota. Ordean married the love of his life, Leone Walberg, on July 27, 1956. They were blessed with three daughters. For the first few years they split their time between North Dakota where Ordean worked and the farm in Clover Township. Over time they built up the farm, buying more land and raising beef cattle. Ordean quit working on the road and worked for Arctic Cat in Clearbrook, and then Clearwater Rice in addition to the farm. Ordean and Leone always had a big garden and lots of apple trees, that kept them well fed in addition to the animals they raised.
Ordean was an early snowmobile fan and spent countless hours riding trails with his friends. In retirement, Ordean and Leone traveled often. They visited all the states with the exception of Alaska and the New England area. The liked to take the Mini-Winnie and camp with friends and family, often attending blue grass or country music festivals.
Ordean was a man of strong Christian faith. He attended the Faith Bible Chapel of Clover and then later was an active member of First Baptist Church in Clearbrook. He was always soft spoken and was known' for being gentle and kind. He was wonderful with children as his own children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will attest. When he would arrive at his daughter Susan's daycare all the little ones would coming running with arms up and a chorus of "Grandpa, Grandpa!"
His roots ran deep in Clover. He was born and passed to be with the lord on the same piece of land. He knew every foot of the farm. He planted thousands of trees over the years, he said he wanted to make sure his girls always had plenty of Christmas trees to choose from. He would cut a load of trees each Christmas and Leone would pick her favorite from the kitchen window. He would then deliver trees to friends and often provided the tree for the girls or grandsons classroom. He taught his grandsons to hunt and to appreciate the land. Hunting season was a big holiday at the Swanson farm. Even after he quit hunting, he enjoyed hunting season and sharing hunting stories with the boys. In recent years he waited to see what Allie and Emmy, his great granddaughters, would bring down during the season.
Ordean is survived by his wife of 66 years Leone, daughters Nancy (Rick) Vyskocil and Susan Duquette. Grandsons Tony (Sarah) Duquette and Nolan Ettish. Great grandchildren, Allison and Emily Duquette and Addison and Wyatt Ettish. Ordean was also survived by his sister, Aileen Erickson and many nieces and nephews. Ordean was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Lisa, his parents Tom and Petra Swanson, Sisters Mildred Ballard, Mavis Erickson, Jean Fuchs, and Brothers Laverne' (Bucky) Swanson, Newell Swanson and Larry Swanson.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota with a visitation one hour prior. A visitation will also be held the evening before on Friday, November 18, 2022 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, MN. Interment will be held Clover Cemetery in Leonard, MN. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
In leu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Veteran's Honor Flight, Sanford Hospice, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or plant a tree in his memory.
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