Irene Mae Swartout

Irene Mae Swartout, 95, went to be with God and her family in heaven on January 14, 2018. A private grave site service was held at her request. A celebration of life service will be held in February at Edgewood Vista in Virginia. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia. To sign the online guest book or to send condolences, please visit www.rangefuneralhomes.com.

She was born on July 21, 1922 in Brainerd, MN to Edna (Bakken) and Hans Thorson. She has lived in Virginia since 1957. Irene graduated with honors from the Brainerd Washington High School. She won a competition as the fastest and most accurate typist in the sate of Minnesota in her senior year. She also won many spelling bees and could still out-spell most everyone, even at Edgewood Vista where she currently resided. After school, she worked at the Brainerd Fruit Co. On December 9, 1941, she married her childhood sweetheart, Herb Swartout. They were married for 64 years.

She was a homemaker, operated a chicken farm, selling to grocery stores, volunteer, secretary of the PTA, Brownie and Girl Scout leader, and she enjoyed her politics and working on the elections for years. She also enjoyed the cabin at Woman Lake, fishing, camping, and traveling by RV.

Irene had a strong faith and was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church since 1962.

Irene is survived by her daughter, Karen (Larry) Tokarczyk; their therapy dog, Sierra; grandson, Jesse (Keiko) Clasen; and two great grandchildren, Abbey and Vincent.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herb Swartout; daughter, Barbara Abramson; 3 brothers; and 1 sister.

Member of the following associations:

National Funeral Directors Association

National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association

National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association

National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association

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