Sylvia "Ruth" Garrett Swanson

Sylvia Ruth Garrett Swanson, 97, of North Powder, died March 11 at Settlers' Park Assisted Living Facility.

A memorial service will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with Pastor Roger Scovil of the Baker City Christian Church officiating. A private family graveside interment at the North Powder Cemetery will precede the memorial service.

Sylvia was born April 6, 1911, to George W. and Jessica McCabe Swanson in Tuxedo, Md. She moved to Oregon with her parents and five of her siblings in 1917.

After living in Lexington for a short time, they moved to Hood River where Ruth attended school and met the love of her life, Charles Royal Swanson. They were married in 1930 in Hood River.

Royal and Ruth had an interesting and colorful life working together in logging camps, construction sites and ranches throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Ruth was especially fond of the time she and Royal spent working on a purebred Charolais ranch in Molalla. They later returned to Eastern Oregon and enjoyed living and helping at their daughter and son-in-law's ranch for almost 30 years.

Ruth and Royal were active volunteers at the Union County Senior Center in La Grande and the Christian Church in Baker City. Ruth was a sports fan. She especially enjoyed baseball, having had three brothers play semi-pro ball. She also enjoyed playing the piano, doing needlework and tending plants and challenging Royal to a game of Yahtzee or Cribbage.

Ruth loved making a comfortable home and cooking for any family or friends who came to her door. Those who knew her say her family was the most important part of her life along with her faith in God.

She is survived by her son, George and his wife, Belva, of Turner; daughter, Jessie Dodson and her husband, Don, of North Powder; eight grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and numerous great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, and a son, James Swanson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker City Christian Church in care of Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City 97814.

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