Nancy Swenson, Long-time WI&M Cook, Passes Away

The following obituary is taken from the Lewiston Tribune and mentions Nancy's history with the WI&M. 

Nancy M. Swenson

Posted: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 12:00 am

Nancy Mary Swenson died suddenly Friday, July 19, 2013, at her home in Potlatch. Nancy was born Nov. 30, 1914, in Avon, Idaho, and was the oldest of nine children born to William and Maude Hawkins Kleer. Nancy was baking bread daily for the entire family while standing on a wooden box to reach the kitchen counter from the time she was about 10 years old. She continued to be a fabulous baker her entire life and was widely known for her extraordinary "Nancy Rolls" and for her amazing cinnamon rolls, made from the same recipe and which created their own delicious caramel sauce when turned out of the pan. Nancy never felt a day was well-lived unless she had tackled some difficult task and/or performed physical labor, of which washing and ironing clothes, together with canning fruit, were some of her most favorite kinds of work. No dirty job was too big or too difficult, but she would keep at it until it was done. This was a woman who even vacuumed her daughter's firewood so that it would be clean before being burned. Nancy was indefatigable; she worked her entire life, beginning when she left school in the 10th grade at Deary High School to help the family by keeping house and caring for the children of neighbors for 25 cents a day.

Nancy married Harry Francis Swenson, also of Deary, Oct. 22, 1934. They were married until his death in 1970. Harry worked for the railroad, and for a while they lived in a railroad box car that was outfitted as a kitchen and eating area with a bed in the back so that she could cook for and feed the section crew while Harry and coworkers were building bridges for the Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway. Later, Harry and Nancy moved full time to Potlatch, where she raised chickens to eat and sell from the garage on Pine Street and later in the chicken coops that were part of the property on Maple Street, where she continued to live until her death. She could slaughter, pluck and dress a chicken in a matter of a few minutes. She split her own firewood until she was 96. Nancy worked outside the home too, first caring for a longtime next-door neighbor and then for the John and Florence Trueman family by keeping house and caring for their children, Jay, Meg and Mike - all of whom she felt were like her own. She later went to work in the stores owned by the Truemans, first in Onaway and then in Potlatch. After her husband's death she enjoyed traveling, including a cruise to Alaska, going to Idaho, Hawaii and Montana, driving to Oregon to see her sisters and visiting her daughter in California and Seattle many times. She also traveled to visit John and Florence Trueman in Arizona and Mexico. After her first "retirement" she went back to work twice, once at the hardware store, then in Potlatch, where she loved that she learned about all kinds of tools, about mixing paint and practical do-it-yourself skills. She was an avid reader and also made beautiful afghans and rugs.

Nancy was a longtime active member of the Mistletoe Rebekah Lodge in Potlatch until it dissolved, and for many, many years she was a volunteer at the senior center in Potlatch, where she set tables and collected the donations, among other tasks. Nancy had a zest for life, treasuring every day, and she was always positive and looking for the best in things and people. She had great friends and was a great friend to others. One example is that one of her friends, Meg Trueman Ballard, retired from her job in Billings, Mont., in June so that she could move to Potlatch to care for Nancy so that Nancy could continue to live in her own home rather than move to Seattle to live with her daughter or to go to a nursing home. Meg and she had several wonderful weeks together before her death, and there are no words to express what a wonderful gift those weeks were for Nancy.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband and parents; by her brothers, Kenneth Kleer, Clifford Kleer and Herbert Kleer; and by her sisters, Alma Prickett and Donna Kleer. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Swenson Howard and her husband Chris Matson of Seattle; by her Trueman "children"; and by her sisters, Irma Lunsford of Avon, Idaho, Dixie Graham of The Dalles, Ore., and Nina Sandquist of Salem, Ore.; as well as by nine nieces and nephews and many good and special friends. Those friends include those who so generously supported her over the past few years, allowing her to live alone so well and for whom special thanks are hereby extended, among others, to Elaine Johnson and Norman and Diana Johnson, to Sharon Largent Montgomery and to Randy and Gayle Bryngelson.

In accordance with Nancy's wishes, there will be no services held. The family suggests memorials be made to the city of Potlatch Senior Center.

Another Successful Speeder Event for the HPG!

Perfect weather, great use of the new platform, and an experienced group of volunteers made the latest speeder event one of the best ever!  There was good music on the Bennett Boxcar Stage, a model railroad in the freight room, and an enthusiastic group of riders on the loading dock all day, as HPG President Kenny Cada, Dave Cada, new HPG Secretary Pam Buckley and Elaine Johnson kept the "Depot Dawgs" selling at a steady clip.  What a nice day to enjoy the depot, the music and the good company, not to mention a speeder ride to either Kennedy Ford or Princeton!  It is impossible to credit all the volunteers who made it happen: people such as Roger Farrell and Hal Vandevord who come back each year to manage passengers and speeder loading; Bob Behal, and Mike and Barb West who assist Jim West in prep and setup; Don Somers, the experienced event manager who is now retiring; Kenny Cada and US Bank employees, who manage pre-sale tickets; Brian Magelky and son Aaron, stalwarts in the flagging brigade; board member Dave Zuhn, who travels all the way to Potlatch from his home in Minnesota; and the list goes on!  Thanks too to Mayor Dave Brown and wife Grace who stayed the whole day (credit Dave with helping out on the Depot Project all along, and City Councilman Dave Cada also contributing lots of time and support!).  Karen Rohn, the new HPG Vice-President, said sales in her depot shop, Blackbird, were solid all day, proving that the depot has a solid place in Potlatch's downtown.

Local singer Laurie Heustis kicked off the music in the boxcar (pictured above).  Several other area musicians also performed, including headliner Wanigan, the ever-popular Junior Jammers, and HPG founder Jim West's group, the Two Dollar Bills, featuring Bill Tenney, Rebecca West, Jim West, and Paul Anders (pictured below).  Jon Wight added his mellow voice to the mix as the final act of the day (Jon played despite nursing a set of sore ribs after taking a fall).

The F-9 locomotive was showcased as an added attraction with all sort of kids, young and old, scrambling aboard to pretend they were at the throttle.

Judy Meyer, 1st District Trustee for the Idaho State Historical Society, came to ride a speeder with husband Steve (pictured in the F-9 cab below). Based in Coeur d'Alene, Judy has been a steady supporter of the Depot Project.

Managing the ticket sales were the now retired HPG Treasurer Don Somers, and the new HPG Treasurer, Barb West (pictured below).

Meanwhile, in the freight room, the Lewiston model railroad group kept people entertained with the club's traveling model railroad layout, and the Latah County Historical Society contributed the nice WI&M Railway exhibit.

Next door, the Potlatch Historical Society showed off its new museum quarters in the basement of City Hall.  A steady stream of visitors came through, with Coeur d'Alene visitors Laurie and Karen commenting that they never knew about Potlatch and found it a great little place to visit!

The little caboose was a work in progress, with visitors gaining an understanding of what it takes to restore a vintage car. The X-5 worked for both the BNP and the WI&M in its day.

Potlatch enjoyed another successful visit from the speeders, thanks to their generosity and the work of countless volunteers.  Thanks, everyone, for a fun day!

Speeders Are Coming Soon!

Due to several circumstances, the speeders did not show up last year, so it makes it even more important to get the word out that "They're Back!!!"  The tradition continues at the Historic Potlatch Depot as the speeders roll into town July 13, with rides departing at 8 am sharp.  As in years past, tickets for either the Princeton route, or the Kennedy Ford route can be purchased ahead of time at US Bank, but be advised, they will sell out fast because speeders are limited to 10 cars this time around. Rides for adults are $20, and kids 12 and under are $15, with rides going out until 4:15.  If you haven't ridden the rails in a speeder, you have been missing something for the bucket list!

Back this year is a whole lot of good music, with the schedule as follows:

Laurie Heustis      9 am
Potlatch Junior Jammers     10 am
Two Dollar Bills       11 am
Wanigan      12 noon
Talmadge and Kassandra     1:15 pm
Bluewater Strangers     2:15 pm
Jon Wight        3:15 pm

Suggested Donation for Music $5

"Thanks Santa"

 

The previous post forgot to mention a big thank you to "Santa" for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit us in Potlatch.  It was a labor of love, and we appreciate that we rated so highly.  The pictures posted here are courtesy of Bob Behal, who promises that he has lots more photos of the day.  These show Santa close up, and also a look from above, probably a reindeer shot, right?

 

 

Take a bow, Potlatch, and HPG members.  It was a good day. 

And special thanks to Ron Minden!!!! 

Ho, ho, ho!

 

Santa Arrives by Train!!!!

 

Things were jumping in Potlatch Saturday, and the HPG was in the thick of things after decorating the observation car on loan from the W&I Railway AND arranging for Santa to arrive in town by train (Thank you Stan Patterson and Karl Nelson).  In the old company town days, bringing Santa in by train was traditional, and Don Somers got it in his head that things should happen that way again.  Thanks to the railroad, an engine was ready and waiting to haul the Merry Old Gentleman in, as hundreds of children and parents waited in the cold.  Thankfully the sun was shining, and people laughed and visited as the big moment arrived.  Leading up to Santa's arrival, a special obeservation car had been cleaned and decorated, with a red velvet chair, Christmas tree and all kinds of decorations setting the mood.  Luckily, most attending Saturday's event will never know the amount of work that went into spray painting and covering over some harsh language someone had maliciously scrawled on the car prior to its arrival in town.  The blustery weather made cleaning, decorating and hanging lights a tough chore, but by Saturday, things were ready.

 

 

Meanwhile, the HPG had also coordinated some 30 vendors, so there were Santa workshops all over town.  Many thanks to Kenny Cada, Karen Rohn and others for spearheading the four locations.  As the overseer at the VFW site, I can attest to the wonderful array of vendors selling a variety of quality products.  Pictured above is the booth belonging to HPG board member Webb French and his family who do business as Brush Creek Creamery.  Their marinated feta is a hands-down favorite!

 

 

As people poured into the depot, VFW, Rebekah Hall and Cone Building, vendors such as our own HPG President Kenny Cada (pictured below) sold their creations to the hundreds of shoppers in town.  Businesses and civic organizations also got into the act, as dog sled races, a breakfast with Santa, a concert and play also added to the excitement.  The Potlatch Historical Society did a brisk business in their new museum headquarters at City Hall, and 4-H members conducted a special sale allowing children to buy modestly priced gifts for their families. The grand finale, of course, was the lighted Christmas parade and huge fireworks demonstration, as the library hosted the Junior Jammers.  Very special thanks to Mayor Dave Brown who got the whole event started 17 years ago!

 

 

Bob Behal's wife, Carol, pictured below, set up shop in the depot, and many were interested in her wonderful textile creations.  Meanwhile Bob was all over town, shooting pictures of the memorable day.  Perhaps some of those photos will turn up in the next White Pine Quarterly.

 

 

And then of course there was Don Somers in the thick of things, as always.  No one will ever know the amount of hours he put into getting ready for the day, but let's just say his energy made you think the speeders would be arriving next!!!

 

 

Thanks to all who made the Company Town Christmas a huge hit.  And thank you David Johnson and Steve Hanks for the great writeup in the Lewiston Tribune.  Rumor has it that Karen Rohn is already revved up for next year!!!!!

 

Depot Lights Go Up---Fun Ahead!

It's been quiet at the depot since they wrapped up the caboose for winter.  But somehow Bob Behal and Don Somers just can't stay away.  So while other volunteers were out in the Scenic Six Park decorating for Christmas, Bob and Don strung lights at the depot.  Thanks to HPG board member Hal Van de Vord for the generous donation for the lights.  They will be turned on during the holiday season and they will be beautiful.  Thanks Bob and Don for furnishing the labor for this project.

Speaking of Christmas, Don got the word that the railroad will be hauling Santa into town the day of the Lighted Christmas Parade.  Mark December 8 on your calendar because this will be a great event!  In addition to the parade and fireworks, there will be a craft fair sponsored by the HPG, with vendors at the Rebekah Hall and VFW on Pine Street.  December 8 has a full slate of events, including dog sled races with people pulling the dogs, a chili feed, a concert, and lots of activities all around town.  This will truly be an old-fashioned family Christmas, and the HPG will be a large part of the action!

Roger Tackles the Platform Work

Some of us have long known Roger Farrell as that great looking guy who keeps the speeder riders in line each year.  This weekend, however, Roger donned his work clothes to do some wrap-up work on the new platform.  Tightening down the planks further, he then gave the whole area a good washing so the rest of the deck could be stained.  It was a long day for Roger, and we appreciate his steady dedication to the HPG.  By the way, probably not everyone knows that Roger now has a speeder of his own, so we will look forward to some updates on that front!

With more warm weather in store, Bob Behal and his crew will likely be back working on the caboose next week. Thanks to one and all for the many hours of volunteer work that make things happen at the depot.  By the way, did anyone notice the set of trucks is gone from our house track?  Seems our HPG treasurer Don Somers helped get them sold, making some extra money for the group.  Thanks Don!