Ethel Swandby 04/29/2015

Ethel Louise Swandby, age 98 of Madison, WI and formerly of Maiden Rock, WI died on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at Heritage of Middleton.  Ethel was born the daughter of Otto and Julia (Pfeifer) Link on March 29, 1917 in Montgomery, MN.  She grew up in St. Paul, MN, graduating from Humboldt High School as Valedictorian of her class.  She was Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Minnesota.  Ethel taught school in Henning, MN and Janesville, WI.  While teaching in Henning, she met her future husband, Julius Swandby.  They were married on June 8, 1943 in Columbia, S.C. where Julius was stationed.  In 1956 they purchased Swandby Furniture and Funeral Service in Maiden Rock, WI which they ran together until 1983.  Ethel and Julius travelled widely throughout North America and Europe prior to Julius’ death in 1992.  Ethel moved to Madison in 1996.  She remained a member of Sabylund Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for many years.  Ethel enjoyed reading, journaling and getting to know those she met.  She wrote poems for special occasions.  She was an avid historian, remembering every detail.  She was a devoted mother and grandmother who never stopped teaching.  She was humble, generous, and lived her life with great integrity.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Julia Link; husband, Julius Swandby; sons, Paul (Sharie) Swandby and Joel Swandby; brother, Carl (Wanda) Link; sister, Catherine (Jack) Hill; and brother-in-law, Bern Eklund.  Ethel is survived by sons, Mark (Toni) Swandby, Lonnie (Bruce Clark) Payne; granddaughters, Melanie (Michael) Swandby-Keller, Maria Swandby, Paulene Swandby, Christina Swandby; sister, Jewell Eklund; brother, Otto P. (Jeanette) Link, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.    A funeral service was held Monday, May 4, 2015 at 11:00 am at Sabylund Lutheran Church in rural Stockholm.  Visitation was held Sunday, May 3, 2015 from 3-6 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral Home in Maiden Rock and also Monday from 10-11 am at church.  Interment was in the Maiden Rock Cemetery.  Pallbearers are Steven Ottman, Michael Keller, Bruce Clark, Rev. James Koza, Douglas Sjostrom, and Elliot Bjurquist.  Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of Maiden Rock.