Philip Swanson
July 25, 1959 – November 28, 2022
The death of Philip Jerome Swanson of the Three Lakes district occurred at his residence on November 28, 2022. He was 63 years of age. I was born on July 25, 1959, (approximately seven weeks early), to Irving and Joan (nee Manning) Swanson at Wetaskiwin, AB. I began life on the farm north of Metiskow, AB, where I remembered the dog and I wandering all over the farm. It was a challenge for my older siblings to find which mud bog I left my boots in. I was a free range little boy. My mom just had to call the dog and he would pretty much force me to go with him – smart dog. I think I was five and got too close to the men and the thrashing machine. Even with a warm butt, I was happy to go be with uncle Dennis on the hay rack hauling bundles to the threshing machine. I remember helping dad milk cows; he would put me on the quietest cow and I would start milking (spraying cats mostly), then Dad would milk the nine others and finish mine. There was quite an age span among us siblings and at nine months old I became an uncle and, eventually, an uncle to 15 plus 4 on Holly’s side. In 1986, I became a great-uncle and eventually to 18 plus 2 on Holly’s side, and great-great-uncle to 8. I started kindergarten in Metiskow for three days, then started grade 1 in Provost, AB, for when I was 7 we moved to Provost. During that time fire took our shop, barn, and pig barn and came within 15 feet of the house. In 1969, I lost my father in a car accident. Then, mom and I spent the next three years in Edgerton, AB, where mom taught grades 7, 8 and 9 English. On the third year, I had mom for a teacher. I went back to Provost for grades 8 to 11, and got my G.E.D. in 1997. Thinking I was smarter than my teachers, I decided to join the working masses. I held numerous jobs, from grocery store, to oil refinery, to tending bar, to drilling rigs, to truck driving and heavy equipment operation. On June 25, 1983, I married the love of my life, Holly Pfeiffer. We had two children; Kyle on April 3, 1986, and Karrah on June 5, 1992. Kyle was born in Lloydminster, SK, where we moved to in 1985, and I was working in the oilfield. After the oilfield crashed, I went trucking all over Canada and the United States. Following that, I decided long haul wasn’t a family man’s job and took a local trucking job. In 1989, we moved to Vermilion, AB, where I hauled livestock and fuel. In 1992, Karrah was born. We lived in Vermilion until 1997, when we moved to Holly’s parents’ farm near Lake Lenore, SK. I was hired by the local R.M. To build and maintain roads. I worked for various companies and R.M.’s and the union local 870 running heavy equipment until December 2019 when I took disability from work waiting for a hip replacement. Certain health conditions and Covid shutdowns prevented me from getting that hip. In February 2022, I was diagnosed with cancer. Phil is survived by his wife, Holly (nee Pfeiffer) Swanson; son Kyle (Raelene nee Prytula) Swanson and family, Clyde, Magnus, Zaylia, and Emmett; daughter Karrah (Josh) Rebalkin and son Miller; brothers: Greg Swanson, and Wayne (Linda) Swanson; sister, Priscilla (Alex) Vass; brothers-in-law: Brent Pfeiffer, Tim (Sheila) Pfeiffer, and Lawrence Pfeiffer. He was predeceased by his father, Irving Swanson; mother, Joan (nee Manning) Swanson; brother, Ron (Becky) Swanson; nephew Rodney Swanson; sisters: Laurie Swanson, and Lynann (Lloyd) Thundberg; father-in-law, Gilbert Pfeiffer; mother-in-law, Karen (nee Lung) Pfeiffer; and sister-in-law, Bernie Pfeiffer. A Graveside Service was held at St. Mount Calvary Lutheran Cemetery, Verndale, on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Pastor Clint Magnus. The urnbearer was Karrah Rebalkin, and the eulogist was Greg Swanson. Honorary pallbearers were all of Philip’s grandchildren. Memorial donations may be directed to the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (9 Lancaster Road, Moose Jaw, SK, S6J).
This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)