Bertha Marie Swinburnson
November 06, 1921 - July 10, 2015
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Bertha Marie Swinburnson
November 06, 1921 - July 10, 2015
Obituary
Toots Swinburnson, long time Lynden resident, passed away peacefully on July 10th at the age of 93. Born Bertha Marie Kehl in Boyd (Carbon County) Montana on Nov 6, 1921 she was mercifully nicknamed ‘Toots’ as an infant by the minister at her baptism. It stuck. Her parents, Gabriel and Anna Kehl, already had five of their nine children when they emigrated from the German settled Black Sea area of Russia in 1909. The rest, with Toots being the last and largest at 13 pounds, were born on the trek west from Ellis Island as the family ‘worked’ its way across the country.
Toots married Walter Swinburnson in 1944. They settled in Lynden and spent the next nearly 50 years there together. They were charter members of Hope Lutheran Church. Trained in beauty school in San Francisco during the early part of World War II, Toots worked as a beauty operator locally for 20 years. That gave way to a career as office manager at JC Penney Co. in Lynden until retirement after another 20 plus years. In later years, she was a multiple gallon blood donor, volunteered as a member of the mobile mammogram team in Whatcom County, and worked a ticket gate at the Northwest Washington Fair every year until she was almost 90 years old. She loved spending time with family and friends, playing cards, and was an avid (and perennially disappointed) Mariners fan. She was sweet and caring but could literally and figuratively pack a wallop – a great and loyal friend but a very formidable adversary.
Toots is survived by her two sons, Kurt (Andrea) of Kauai, Hawaii and Cory (Julia) of Blaine. She has 8 grandchildren (Mike, Dina, Gabe, Ryan, Tyler, Nolana, Brianna, and Rachel), seven great grandchildren (Ariel, Ella, Cooper, Grady, Jesse, Bella, and Maverick) and one great great grandchild (Penelope). Her husband, Walt, preceded her in death (1993), as did all of her siblings. She was a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews, some who preceded her and others who will grieve her departure. Also missing her will be many friends in and around the Lynden area.
Until age 91 she lived alone but her last 18 months were spent at Good Samaritan – Stafholt in Blaine. She loved the staff and residents there. The superlative loving care she received at Stafholt cannot be overstated.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sat. July 25, at 2:00pm at Moles Farewell Tributes – Greenacres, 5700 Northwest Dr, Ferndale. She will be laid to rest next to Walt in a private burial at Greenacres Memorial Park.
Please share your memories of Toots at wordpress-271002-1416095.cloudwaysapps.com
Celebration Of Life
- Date & Time: January 15, 7252 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Greenacres Memorial Park And Event CenterFerndale
- Location: 5700 Northwest Drive Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (360) 38-4-3401
9 responses to Bertha Marie Swinburnson
Carol McPherson says:
July 10, 2015
I would like to express my condolences to Toots’ boys, family and friends. I had the great pleasure of getting to know Toots and Walter when we moved to British Columbia in 1963. Having met them many, many years before when they visited our Grandparents in Saskatchewan, I somehow got in touch and found them to be wonderfully friendly and hospitable. We visited back and forth for several years – then lost touch, but, thought of them many times. I am sorry I am unable to attend the service tomorrow, however, I will be thinking of her.
Sincerely, Carol (Swinburnson/Magnusson) McPherson
The Schreckengast Family says:
July 10, 2015
Our heart felt condolences to “Toots” family. Toots was a wonderful person. Her presence and stories will be missed by all those who knew her. She was Dodie’s (my wife) favorite Aunt. Always a great time with Walt and Toots on our visits in Lynden. A real great gal.
Erin Carlson-Jones says:
July 10, 2015
My Aunt Toots was amazing. I loved her so very much. She was my grandmothers sister and and she loved me Like I was her granddaughter after my grandma Emma died.
Toots always accepted me for who I was, and for what I was, and supported me fully. She made me laugh and was always so quick witted. Her stories of living in San Francisco in the “old days” we’re always entertaining and her love for my Uncle Walt was an inspiration and a joy to behold. She was a tough cookie with a big heart and a vibrant personality and she will be missed so very much.
I love ya’ Toots and I’m happy knowing you lived an amazing and full life and are now gleefully bickering with uncle Walt up in heaven. You are forever in my heart. Xxx Erin
Linda Roe Gatesi says:
July 10, 2015
I remember going into Penney’s with my mom as a young girl and we always went upstairs to pay our bill. She always had such a great smile and so helpful. And I got my first credit card at the age of 18 – it did help to know people back then and I was never late with my payment! My sincere condolences to her family.
Candy Mathews says:
July 10, 2015
I remember that Aunt Toots always had huge smile and a kind greeting for me anytime I saw her. I have know Toots for about 30 years and she always amazed me because of her inclusive acceptance of everyone who was a friend of the family. I always looked forward to seeing her at family gatherings, hearing proud boostings of her grand kids successes, her cheerful attitude about all things, and a loving hug. I will miss her every year at the fair.