Service Information
Ruth Lydia Swezey, age 90, of Hector, passed away Saturday, August 25, 2018, at the Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center.
Funeral Service will be held Saturday, September 1, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hector, Minnesota, with interment in the Osceola United Methodist Church of Hope Cemetery in Osceola Township, rural Hector.
Visitation will be Friday, August 31, 2018 from 4:00–7:00 P.M. at the Hughes-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hector, and will continue on Saturday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church beginning at 9:30 A.M. for one hour prior to the service.
Obituary
Ruth Lydia (Musil) Swezey was born on July 19, 1928, to George A. and Dina W. (Nickel) Musil in rural Brookfield Township, Renville County, Minnesota, and moved with her parents to the Musil homestead just a few miles away. She lived there the majority of her life. Ruth was baptized as an infant at the Osceola EUB Church of Hope, and was confirmed in her faith there as a youth. She attended rural school District #90 through the eighth grade, then Hector High School, graduating in 1946 and attaining her B.A. degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1951. It was at an early age that the importance of education was instilled in her, as well as her lifelong passion for reading. Ruth started her teaching career in Clinton, Minnesota in 1951 where she taught senior high English and Chemistry, and eventually became the school librarian.
During this time she met the love of her life, Harold O. Swezey, and they were married on June 7, 1959. Harold and Ruth moved to the Musil family farm in March of 1960 and continued to live on the farm until the last month of her life. This union was blessed with two children, Judith Kaye and Robert Harold. Ruth’s teaching / library career continued at the Hector School in 1965, then in Buffalo Lake - Hector High School until her retirement in 1993.
Ruth was a member of the Osceola United Methodist Church of Hope until the church closed in 1990, and then was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hector, Minnesota. Both Ruth and Harold enjoyed their children’s games and music concerts, and have for years sponsored Massai girls to further their education in Tanzania, Africa. Ruth enjoyed gardening, along with preserving, canning, and pickling the fruits and vegetables of the garden, flowers, bird watching, reading, and especially visiting. Many family and friends were important to Ruth, and she loved their phone calls and mail.
Ruth passed peacefully from this life to her eternal home after a short illness on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at the Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center, having reached the age of 90 years, 5 weeks, and 2 days. Blessed be her memory.
Ruth is survived by her:
Daughter, Judith (Reverend Clint) Patterson of Kasson, Minnesota;
Son, Robert (Lori) Swezey of Hector, Minnesota;
Step-Grandchildren: Angela Patterson and her family of Rochester, Minnesota,
Aaron (Amy) Patterson of Bartlett, Illinois, and
Sarah Zuk of Hopkins, Minnesota;
and many friends and family.
Ruth was preceded in death by her: Parents, George and Dina Musil; her Husband, Harold; Sister Marion (Duane) Nelson; and by her Swezey brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Myrtle (Verbal) Vandeventer, Leonard (Ione) Swezey, Edgar (Elizabeth) Swezey, Ervin (Emma) Swezey, Emil (LuVerne) Swezey, Lawrence (Francis) Swezey; Niece, Amy Thorton; Nephew, Bruce Swezey; aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Diane Churchill says
My deepest sympathies to Ruth’s family and friends. Ruth was the best English teacher. I have special memories of her and the lessons she taught. She was a gentle and sweet soul. It was great to see her looking so good and talk with her at the All-School Reunion. Wishing you comfort and sweet memories.
Kathleen Krentz Brown says
Mrs. Swezey was a wonderful teacher. The Hector Public School system was fortunate to have an educator of her caliber among their staff. I am grateful to have been one of her students.
Lorri Kulberg-Kempton says
My condolences to you Bob and Judy.
Becky Ahlbrecht says
So sorry for your loss. I remember Ruth, or Ms. Swezey as she was called in school, from her years as a librarian.
Ed & Gail Wenner says
We were sorry to hear of Ruth’s passing. She was a really fine teacher & good friend.
We always enjoyed talking to her as she was a fountain of information & a truly interesting person.
Brenda Anderson says
Mrs. Swezey influenced hundreds of students during her career. She was an outstanding teacher! We were lucky to have her. My sympathy to her family and friends.
Ed & Gail Wenner says
We were so sorry to learn of Ruth’s passing. She was a fine teacher & a good friend.
Ruth was a fountain of information who was always very interesting to talk to.
Sharon Patterson Davis says
We love Ruth in our family. She was our children’s “Aunt Ruth” and she with Harold, were wonderful to our kids from their cradles to now. Ruth took great care to write, call, and attend so many of their events in their faith and growing up years. How we loved her smiled and her direct, no-nonsense approach to learning, living and giving. Heaven will not have to wait any longer for her– we will miss her here. Love, Greg, Sharon, Chris and Katy, Brayson and Liam Benne