Elaine Gertrude Swanson, 91, of Pine Island passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pine Island United Methodist Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Pine Island Cemetery. Arrangements were made with Mahn Family Funeral Home – Mahler Chapel.

Elaine was the daughter of the late George Nelson and Faith Strate. She was born Aug. 29, 1925, in Oakland and raised in Albert Lea. She married Marshall C. Swanson in Northwood. They had six children together: five daughters and one son. She worked as a homemaker for Family Home Services in Rochester. She loved to talk and tell funny stories, and her words would often make you smile and laugh any time she spoke. Family was especially important to her. She was very proud of her six children and all of her grandchildren.

Her beautiful life will forever remain in the lives of her children Carolyn Swanson of Pine Island, Sharon Heckman of Danbury, Wisconsin, Mary Rother of Brooklyn Park, Lee Swanson and Barbara Soule, both of Pine Island, and Sue Swanson of St. Paul; her loving brother, Donald Nelson, of Rochester; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Marshall Swanson; and her granddaughter, Jacqueline Sissom.

The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Pine Haven Care Center and St. Croix Hospice for their wonderful care.