Marjorie A. Lawson

Marjorie A. Lawson, 98, passed away on Sunday, July 19, 2020, surrounded by her family, at her home.

Marjorie Ann Swancutt was born January 4, 1922, at home in rural Howard County, Iowa, to Charles and Alice (Billman) Swancutt. Marge attended rural school through eighth grade and then attended the Lime Springs, Iowa, High School through tenth grade, at which time she needed to care for her mother and newborn sister.  

She was married to Thomas W. Lawson on March 15, 1939, at the Methodist Church parsonage in Chester, Iowa. In 1946 they bought a farm, where they lived the remainder of their lives. At first, Marge was dismayed to leave her blue and white house in Chester, but grew to love the farm and got her wish to die at home on the farm.

Marge and Tom enjoyed entertaining family and friends with big meals, stories, and card games most Sundays and every Mother’s Day. Tom and Marge belonged to a square dance club (she sewed a matching shirt and skirt). She was a member of the Beaver Center Women’s Club. She could listen to a song on the radio, then sit at the piano and play the song. Marge loved visiting with friends and family, gardening, and teaching the grandchildren card games – Skipbo, Cribbage, and 500. In later years, when she had more time, she crocheted afghans for the great-grandchildren – as soon as they were old enough to know her. They were members of the United Methodist Church in Chester, where Marge taught Sunday School.

Marge is survived by seven children: Jeanette Baker (Bud Mlenar), Shirley (Kent) Flikki, Thomas (Fran) Lawson, Gary (Diane) Lawson, David (Julie) Lawson, Diane Ellingson (Al Grabau), John (Elizabeth) Lawson, and son-in-law Doug (Leona) Leist, 18 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, 26 great-great-grandchildren, three great-great-great-grandchildren, her brother Charles (Barb) Swancutt, and four sisters: LuAnn Madson, Phyllis Seavey, Marilyn Snater, and Patty (Ron) Luthe.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her daughter Janice Leist, her grandson Thomas W. Lawson III, and three sisters: Hazel Farrankop, JoAnn Strange, and Sharon Eastman, and brothers-in-law Daryl Madson and Bill Strange.

Due to COVID-19, her funeral at Chester Methodist Church and burial at Chester Hill Cemetery will be limited to immediate family only (masks will be required at both sites). Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church in Chester, Iowa.