Elizabeth "Libby" Eulalie Swenson

Elizabeth E. (Libby) Swenson passed away on Saturday, April 8, at the age of 91. Libby was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on December 17, 1925, the third child of Buford and Eulalie Collings.

Libby lived with her family in Mississippi until the age of 14, when she moved to Philipsburg, Montana. Libby spent her first two years of high school in Philipsburg, then moved with her family to Spokane, where she graduated from Marycliff High School. It was during her junior year of high school that, as Libby put it, “I began to like to write and [gained] the confidence to believe that perhaps I could become a writer.” Libby was accepted at Marquette University and graduated with a degree in Journalism. After college, Libby worked at Eastern State Hospital at Medical Lake where she wrote, edited, and helped print a monthly newspaper. She was on the editorial staff at The Oregon Jesuit, and wrote publicity releases for the public relations office at Gonzaga University.

In 1947, Libby met her future husband, Ferd Swenson. They were married on January 29, 1949, and celebrated their 66th anniversary shortly before Ferd’s death in 2015.

Ferd and Libby spent the first few months of their marriage in Spokane. Later that year they moved to Coulee Dam where Ferd worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. In 1951 Ferd accepted a position with the Army Corps of Engineers and they moved to Walla Walla. Libby lived in Walla Walla until August, 2016, when she moved to Riverview Care Center in Spokane.

Libby, along with her husband, was a founding member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, and was a member of the Altar Society for many years. She was a dedicated supporter of Catholic schools, and often contributed to bake sales with her famous miniature pies.

A longtime supporter of the Walla Walla chapter for Human Life, Libby took her staunch beliefs into politics. In 1984, she ran for Washington State Representative on a Right-To-Life platform. While she did not win the election, her campaign brought attention to a cause she supported passionately.

Libby continued to write. She met regularly with a writers’ group, and had several published stories and articles. She wrote a book for her family called Leaves from the Family Tree. In 2011, at age 85, Libby met a personal goal, and published a book, a collection of meditations entitled Stepping Stones.

Libby is survived by her nine children and their spouses: Larry (Lonie) Swenson, Ennis, MT; Karen (John) Lawrence, Enterprise, OR; Margaret (Don) Eakman, Great Falls, MT; Mark (Mary) Swenson, Otis Orchards, WA; Mary (Tom) Nickol, Coeur d’Alene, ID; Loretta (Gerard) Byrd, Martin City, MT; Teresa (Ray) Enge, Idaho Falls, ID; David (Lori) Swenson, Helena, MT; and Michael (Chris) Swenson, Cortland, NY. In addition to her nine children, Libby is survived by 27 grandchildren and 28 greatgrandchildren (with three more on the way). She is also survived by her brothers-in-law, Howard Swenson of Seattle and Adolph Shymanski of Los Angeles. Libby was preceded in death by her husband, Ferd Swenson; her parents, Buford and Eulalie; her brother, Buford; and sister, Emelie.

A Rosary will be held on Monday, April 17, at the Herring-Groseclose Funeral Home at 6 p.m., with viewing from 2 p.m. - 5 pm. Her funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, April 18, at 10 a.m. at Assumption Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Walla Walla Chapter of Human Life, Walla Walla through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guest book at www.herringgroseclose.com.