Kathleen Swanson died Saturday, January 22, 2011 at the Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson at the age of 84. Memorial service will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at the Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Kathleen Emilie (Sorlie) Swanson was born May 26, 1926 in Dawson, MN the daughter of Karsten and Emilie (Thomason) Sorlie. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dawson, and graduated from Dawson High School in 1944. She worked as a telephone operator in Chicago for a short time before moving back to Dawson. She was united in marriage to Vernit Swanson on January 3, 1948 in Canby, MN. They made their home in Dawson, and to this union two children were born: Linda and Mitchell. She worked as a waitress at various cafes and also worked at Molstad's Bakery, Davidson's Red Owl, and Rensberger Rexall Drug Store. Kathleen was a member of the Strand-Saboe VFW Auxiliary, Grace Lutheran Church Women and Senior Citizens. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren, play cards with friends, and travel on bus trips. She especially loved to bake and cook for her family -- spritz cookies were her specialty. In 2009 she moved to the Johnson Memorial Care Center and enjoyed playing bingo, visiting with other residents and doing crossword puzzles. She is survived by two children: Linda Ellefson and her husband Ken, and Mitchell Swanson, all of Dawson; two grandchildren: Molly Ellefson and her fiance Daniel McShane, and Erika Telkamp and her husband Travis; and several nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Vernit on January 13, 2008; six brothers: Lionel, Clinton, Carl, Theodore, and two in infancy; and one sister Ellen Parchman. She will be dearly missed. Blessed be her memory.