CLEO M. SWANSON, 76, of Pullman and formerly of Clarkston, passed away on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at Bishop Place Retirement Community in Pullman, WA. Cleo was born April 17, 1936 in Yellow Dog, Idaho to Ross & Grace (Burnett) Dial. She grew up on the family farm and attended elementary school in Garfield, WA and graduated from Potlatch High School. Following graduation Cleo moved to Colfax where she went to work as the receptionist for Dr. Bryant. She met Don White whom she married and began her family with. They made their home in Colfax, later moving to Palouse, WA where they farmed and raised their family. Cleo and Don later divorced. In 1972 Cleo married Morton Swanson and in addition to being a homemaker, mother and wife Cleo was the bookkeeper for the Swanson Farm for 20 years. Cleo and Morton moved to Clarkston in 1989 where they made their home. Following his death in 1990 Cleo continued to live in Clarkston until 2008 when she moved to Bishop Place in Pullman. Cleo enjoyed and active life including golfing, snow skiing and traveling. Through the years her travels took her to Australia, New Zealand, Alaska and Hawaii. Time with her family was important and Cleo loved her time spent with her grandchildren. She was active in 4H and the boy’s scouting activities when the children were growing up. Cleo was a member of the Colfax Golf Club, Quail Ridge Gold Club and was busy volunteering throughout the communities she called home. Cleo especially enjoyed volunteering with the Clarkston Chamber of Commerce literacy fund. She is survived by her children Sam White of Lewiston; Dennis (&Greta) White of Endicott; Frankie (&Steve) Swinney of Palouse; Sally (&Scott) Reed of Issaquah and Guy (&Elna Bitton) Swanson of Spokane; her sister Willa Westacott of Garfield; her brother Gale Dial of Potlatch; 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren with one on the way. In addition to her husband Morton, Cleo was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Janet Rohn and a brother Jack Dial. A celebration of life memorial service will be held at Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman, WA on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 11 AM. Memorial donations are suggested to the Friends of Hospice in Clarkston and Pullman.
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