Kenneth Charles Swanson

Kenneth Charles Swanson was born June 18th, 1933 on the family farm in the Hillisden district near Windthorst, Saskatchewan and passed away on Sunday, January 26th, 2014 with family at his side, at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina following surgery at St. Paul’s in Saskatoon.  He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Elizabeth (Stadel); his sister, Shirley Talbot; step-brother, Dale Brack; and infant son, Robbie.  Ken is survived by his loving wife, Elaine and her children: Wendy (Boris) Tchoursine, Jeff Gillert, Des (Tammi) Gillert and Wendell (Amy) Gillert, and grandchildren: Anna, Nicholas, Tristan, Emalee and Parker; his children: Brian (Cheryl), Don (Diana), Joyce and Karen; their mother, Vera Hunter; grandchildren: Rachel, Natalie, Aaron, Kenda, Anna, Leah, Anthony and Tyler; and great-granddaughter, Khloe; his brother, Al (Lil); sister, Fran (Ted) Bechard; former wife, Zita and her son, Kirby Shumay; and special “daughter”, Marcie Mirasty.  His father died when Ken was 14, leaving him the eldest on the family farm.  From extremely modest circumstances, he built a successful business career, creating a lot of employment and investment in Moose Jaw.  Ken moved to Moose Jaw in the early 1950’s and started work hoisting 120 pound bags at the Wheat Pool Seed plant on South Hill.  After a couple of years there, he worked in the yard at Security Lumber before being hired as an estimator at Moose Jaw Sash and Door in 1957.  In 1970 he was hired to manage Allied Distributors, then a two person retailer of bolts, hand tools and aluminum windows.  With hard work, excellent business sense and fortuitous timing, he built the company into the city’s largest lumber yard and along the way started Westwood Truss, a lumber yard in Regina, Moose Jaw’s first private garbage collection company and a number of rental properties.  A farm boy at heart, Ken’s passions were gardening, hunting and fishing, in particular his annual trip for salmon and halibut to the West Coast with long-time business partner and friend Carl Pilkey, and innumerable goose and deer hunts with good friend John Johnson.  A Gathering to Celebrate Ken’s Life will be held on Friday, January 31st, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in the Harvey Room at Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane, Moose Jaw, SK.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Ken’s name may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 61B Ross St. W., Moose Jaw, SK S6H 2M2.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Todd Sjoberg, Funeral Director 306-693-4550