Swanson Funeral Home Served Hopkins for 48 Years

The Swanson Funeral Home, run by Stanley and Fern Swanson, was in business in Hopkins for 48 years from 1930 to 1978. They were bought out by Price Funeral Home of Maryville and became the Swanson-Price Funeral Home.

Stanley went to Worsham Training School in 1923, got his Embalmer’s License in 1924, and came to Hopkins in 1930. He started when funeral homes still went to peoples’ houses to embalm bodies. Stanley would do the embalming, while Fern would do the cosmetic work.

The funeral home business is similar to the newspaper business in that there is no such thing as a day off, especially when the Swansons did the ambulance service for 35 years as well. At one point, they tried to get away to Colorado for vacation for four years in a row, only to be called back each time.

In addition to the funeral home, the Swansons were active in the community as well. They were active in the Hopkins Christian Church, where Fern taught Sunday School for 26 years. They were members of the Order of the Eastern Star and Xenia Lodge #50, from whom Stanley got a 50 year pin. They were also active in the Elks Club of Maryville and Cub Scouts, and Stanley was a charter member of the Hopkins Lions Club. He helped purchase the land for the park northwest of town and served at various times on the Hopkins City Council, the North Nodaway School Board, and the Nodaway County Welfare Advisory Board.