Barbara Helen Swanson

Barbara H. Swanson, 85, of Sioux City, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, at Sunrise Retirement Community.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 S. Martha St., Sioux City. Private graveside services will be held at a later date in Lyons, Neb. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Barbara was born on Nov. 30, 1931, in Oakland, Neb., to Sidney L. and Helen (Anderson) Wallerstedt. She attended Pleasant Ways District 62 country school and graduated from Oakland High School. She taught Sunday school and was Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters.
Her marriage to Burnell Swanson of Lyons, Neb., on Dec. 9, 1950, was followed by a career as a loving wife and homemaker to her husband and devoted mother to her daughter, Sheila. They spent the early years of their marriage in Blair, Neb., where her husband taught Vocational Agriculture at Blair High School and Barbara worked as secretary to the superintendent. Burnell joined the Ralston Purina Co. in 1956, and they moved to Sioux City.
The couple served as active members of Morningside Lutheran Church since 1957. Barbara served as WELCA president, as well as on several other council committees. She was a leader in the Multicultural Women’s Group. As a member of Yada Yada, a widow’s support group, she regularly volunteered at the Women and Children’s Shelter. She had a “Servants Heart.” Music was always a part of her life. She enjoyed singing with the Celebration Choir, the Siouxland Singers as well as harmonizing with her Wallerstedt brothers and sisters.
Barbara’s talents were immense and she was always willing to lend a helping hand. She sewed banners and costumes for church, North High School plays and Purina events. She was famous for her spritz cookies and coffee bread. An avid flower gardener, her backyard designs were worthy of Better Homes and Gardens. She could create an elegant home out of a simple small space. Barbara continued the family legacy of poetry writing, capturing the beauty of sunsets and paying tribute to many family and friends. Also, an animal lover; she served as wrangler to a menagerie of pets, from guinea pigs to horses.
Barbara was known to all her friends and loved ones as a “beautiful lady” both inside and out. She was a loving mother, thoughtful, genuine, fun loving, and always impeccably dressed. She was devoted to her family, friends and fondly called “Grandma” by many little pals she made along the way.
Those left to honor her memory include her daughter, Sheila (John) McIntyre, of Centennial, Colo.; niece, Sara (Roy) Kiser of Calera, Ala.; sisters, Beverly Jean (Merl Jeffrey) Richards of Lincoln, Neb., Merrily (Dallas) Pennington of Sacramento, Calif., Patricia (Richard) Miller of Oakland, Neb., brothers, Donald (Janet) Wallerstedt of New Brighton, Minn., Thomas Wallerstedt of Oakland, Neb.; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Burnell; and her daughter, Claudia Ann.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Morningside Lutheran Church and the Swedish Heritage Center of Oakland, Neb.