Juanita June Swanson

February 24, 1932 - March 27, 2020

Juanita June Denbeigh Howell Swanson was born February 24, 1932 in Spokane, Washington to Elmer and Eunice Everett Denbeigh. She passed away March 27, 2020 in Salem, Oregon.

Juanita attended schools in Spokane and Plummer, Idaho, graduating from Plummer High School as class salutatorian in 1949. She attended Seattle Pacific College University prior to marrying LeRoy W. Howell on November 24, 1950. He predeceased her. She then attended business school and worked for Carnation Milk Company and Colyear Motor Parts.

On September 23, 1961 she married George C. Swanson in Spokane, Washington.

In her fifties, she went back to school, obtaining an AA in Early Childhood Development at Chabot Community College in Haywood, California and spent the next several years teaching.

Juanita is predeceased by her parents, a brother, John Denbeigh, a daughter, Paula M. Howell, and a great-granddaughter, Grace Moerke. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, George C. Swanson of Salem, Oregon, children Nancie Robert Willey of Centralia, Washington; Gregory Colleen Howell of Goldendale, Washington; Julie Martin of Sandpoint, Idaho; and Margot Douglas Rodgers of Salem, Oregon. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren: Jennifer Moerke, Jefferson Willey, Sarah Baker, Jennifer Spencer, Austin Howell, Ashleigh Hobart, Leslie Petko, Cameron Howell, Erik Martin, Amanda McKeenan, Carissa Wronski, Caroline Peters, Emilie Dubei, Anna Martin, Rebekah Howell, Rachel Howell, Andrew Martin, Lydia Martin, and Josiah Martin and 23 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Alice Ron Treibel of Oceanside, California and a step-sister, Genevieve Smith of Wenatchee, Washington, as well as numerous cousins and nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, April 3, 2020 from 10:00am to 1:00pm. A Graveside Service will be 2:00pm Friday, April 3, 2020 at Lee Mission Cemetery on D Street in Salem. A Memorial Service is planned for a future date at Fruitland Community Church.

Guest Book Entries

What an amazing woman! We will miss her so much. Our hearts go out to her family and most of all to her husband George.
there are times when we are at a lose for words and this is one of those times.

Juanita was such a loving person. I looked forward every Sunday to getting a hug from my “church Mom”. I will miss seeing her and George together.

I was so inspired by her testimony at the ladies tea at Fruitland years ago. What a remarkable woman. She was always so cheerful had a big smile for everyone. She will be greatly missed.