Gerald C. Swanson

Gerald C. Swanson, age 89, of Milaca, passed away May 10, 2026. Funeral service will be held Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 11 AM at Milaca Alliance Church. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 - 7 PM Friday at Milaca Alliance Church and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Gerald (Jerry) C. Swanson, of Milaca, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at the age of 89. Jerry was born December 12, 1936, in Oak Park, MN, the youngest child of Chester and Mabel (Lundstrom) Swanson. Growing up, the family moved several times, including to Galveston, Texas; Bremerton, Washington; and Long Beach, California. His heart belonged in Minnesota, however, so he moved back and lived with his sister and brother-in-law so that he could finish his schooling in Milaca. Jerry was active in sports, playing football, basketball, and track, where he excelled at hurdles and long jump. He graduated from Milaca High School in 1955, and then attended one year at St. Cloud State Teachers College, where he began dating his future wife. Jerry and Nancy A. Dahlstrom were united in marriage on December 20, 1958, and shortly thereafter began raising their family of five children in Milaca.

Jerry started his long-tenured career as a “milkman,” first doing home deliveries and eventually delivering to schools, hospitals, and other commercial accounts, including the same care facility where he resided this past year. No matter where he delivered, Jerry built friendships along his routes and always managed to take time to visit with people. When not working, Jerry enjoyed taking his family on several road trips across the country, going camping in their travel trailer, snowmobiling with friends and family, playing on the church softball league team, and taking winter trips to Gulf Shores, AL when retired. He was an active supporter of his children’s and grandchildren’s activities as well as a civic and church volunteer: he served as Milaca’s Civil Defense director and was a Stockade Leader for his sons. Jerry and Nancy were long-time members of the First Baptist Church of Milaca. Upon retiring in 1999, they moved to their lake home in Merrifield, MN. They enjoyed their lake house for 26 years, hosting family gatherings, entertaining friends, and enjoying nature and the lake views. In 2025, Jerry and Nancy moved to the Milaca Elim Meadows community. 

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Kenneth; sister and brother-in-law Elvera (Albert) Modrow; sister and brother-in-law Elaine (Clint) Swanson; sister-in-law Esther Bemis; brother-in-law Mark Sederquist; and son, Dwight. Jerry is survived by his sister-in-law Esther Swanson of Tustin, CA; brother-in-law Jim Bemis of Milaca, MN; sister-in-law Catherine Sederquist of Milaca; wife, Nancy of Milaca, MN; children: Douglas of Merrifield, MN, daughter-in-law Terra Swanson of Milaca, MN, Kristin (Mike) Ryan of Mora, MN, Daren (Debra) Swanson of Mora, MN, and Davin (Todd Scott) Swanson of Charlotte, NC; six grandchildren: Miranda (Matt) Loosbrock, Tessa (Adam) Probach, Hannah (Bishop) Anyiwe, Kobe Swanson, Mallory Barthel, and Makayla Swanson; ten (soon to be 12) great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.