Patricia "Patty" Lou (Clow) Swanson

Patricia Lou Clow was born December 18, 1933, to Edward and Helen (Squires) Clow at Franklin, NE. She passed away on Monday, January 1, 2024 at the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care in Bassett, NE at the age of 90 years. The Clow family moved to Rock County in 1933 and then to Burwell, NE in 1947. She received her education at the Rose Country School during her elementary school years and graduated in 1951 from Burwell High School.

On October 7, 1951, Patty was married to B. Duane Swanson of Bassett. Five children were born to this union. Duane served in the Korean Conflict in Fort Belvoir in 1953 and 1954. The couple farmed for a few years north of Rose, NE at the family homestead, until starting Sandhills Repair in Rose with Duane’s brother Ken in 1957. In 1961, Patty and Duane moved to Bassett with their family and Patty was instrumental in the early success of the family business that eventually became Sandhill Implement. Patty did the bookkeeping, helped with parts, and made frequent trips to pick up parts in Sioux City and Columbus. Patty then worked at the Rock County Hospital for 25 years before helping her daughters, Sally and Debbie, at the Ben Franklin in Bassett for a few years. Patty kept remarkably busy over the years raising children, gardening, sewing, knitting afghans for each child and grandchild. She and Duane enjoyed traveling, first to summer Implement Conventions throughout the United States with their children and in later years with their adult children to several locations, including celebrating their 60th Anniversary in Alaska. Patty was very involved in County Extension and was proud to have been selected for the Good Neighbor award from Ak-Sar-Ben in 1982. They were faithful participants of the Town and Country card club for more than 50 years. Patty also loved faithfully watching Nebraska volleyball and football. In June of 2023, Patty and Duane moved to the Evergreen Assisted Living in O’Neill, NE until Patty became hospitalized in mid-October. Patty was a member of Bassett Methodist Church in Bassett. Duane and Patty enjoyed 72 plus years of marriage.

Patty was preceded in death by her parents; father and mother-in-law Elmer & Helen Swanson; daughter Sally Stewart (2019); son-in-law Ron Ewoldt (2019); brothers-in-law Karl Menzel (2009) and Harry (Karen) Swanson (2020). She is survived by her husband Duane of O’Neill, NE/Bassett; children Dennis (Terri) Swanson of Bassett, Donald (Therese) Swanson of Papillion, NE, Cathy Ewoldt of Grand Island, NE and Debbie (Daniel) Morrison of Bassett; son-in-law Robert “Zeke” Stewart of Fullerton, NE; sister Ilow (Rich) Meinecke of O’Neill; brothers-in-law Ken (Greta) Swanson of Central City, NE and Dave (JoAnn) Swanson of Bassett and sister-in-law Joyce Menzel of Bassett. Patty was the proud grandmother of 14 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.


Funeral Services were held Friday, January 5, 2024 at the Bassett Methodist Church in Bassett, officiated by Pastor Jenice Epp. Music was provided by JoAnn Swanson with the CD Selections of “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me and “On Eagle’s Wings” by Michael Joncas being played. Casketbearers were Brett Swanson, Scott Swanson, Christopher Swanson, Brian Johnson, Craig Morrison and Matt Morrison. Honorary Casketbearers were all of Patty’s other grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandson. Interment followed in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials were suggested to the Rock County Hospital, Rock County Senior Center or Bassett Methodist Church in Patty’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett was in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com