Marian May (Swanberg) Wheeler, 77

Marian May (Swanberg) Wheeler, 77 of Ottertail, died Tuesday, April 29, 2008, peacefully at her home after a courageous seven-year battle with cancer, with her family by her side.

Marian was born Sept. 1, 1930, to John Friedolph and Harriet Marie (Hofferbert) Swanberg at their home in rural Effington Township near Parkers Prairie. When she was 9 years old, her family moved to their farm on Otter Tail Lake where she attended country school. During her high school years, she lived in town and graduated from Henning in 1948. After attending nursing school for a few months at Abbott Northwestern, she returned home and married her lifetime partner, Clyde Burton Wheeler on May 7, 1949, at her parents’ home on Otter Tail Lake.

They lived their married life in Henning, Roseville, St. Paul Park, Detroit Lakes and returned to Henning in 1963, where all of their four children graduated from Henning High School.

Clyde and Marian retired to their home on her father’s home bee yard in Ottertail in 2001.

Marian accepted the Lord as her personal Savior on April 2, 1957. She and her husband, Clyde, followed the Lord in baptism together on Feb. 22, 1959. The Lord was the most important influence in her life and her commitment to him was reflected in everything she said and did. She taught Sunday school for many years, served as a deaconess and in other church ministries.

She served as a volunteer at the Henning Nursing Home and was active in the Gideon Ministry. It was her joy, in their retirement, to do volunteer mission work at Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Texas, along side her husband from 1992-2007.

Marian lived life to the fullest. She never worked outside the home but spent many years assisting her husband in his painting business. She was exceptional at hospitality. She loved being around people. She enjoyed camping, reading and knitting, but she was most known for her crocheting.

All her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren as well as numerous other relatives and friends have been graced with her handiwork.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Harriet Swanberg; her sister, Joyce (Swanberg) Nordin; and her grandson-in-law, Taner Eiswald.

Keeping her memory alive are her husband, Clyde of Ottertail; a son, Harold (Shari) Wheeler of Ottertail; three daughters, Karen (Steve) Thayer, Lynda (Hubert) Hauge, both of Kerkhoven and Marie (Ted) Strand of Crosslake; grandchildren, Becky (Craig) Frank, Greg (Mary) Thayer, Tricia Eiswald, Gail Thayer, Ryan (Bridget) Hauge Matthew Hauge, Gwen Thayer, Teddy, Danny and Elizabeth Strand; great-grandchildren, Brooke and Addison Thayer, Lucas Frank, Scarlett Hauge, brothers Marlin (Barb) Swanberg, Fred (Norma) Swanberg and Roy (Donna) Swanberg.

Visitation: Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, and one hour prior to the service

Service: 11 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, Henning

Clergy: Rev. Wendell Wahlin

Burial: Inman Cemetery, rural Henning

Funeral Home: Belmont Funeral Home, Henning