RAPID CITY | Florence Swanson, longtime Rapid City area resident, died Monday, March 23, 2015, at the age of 86 of natural causes, at Westhills Village Healthcare. She was born March 25, 1928, in Rapid City to Bill and Cora Lehman. Bill immigrated from Switzerland at 17 years old and he later married Cora Sanders from Caputa. Florence attended school at Caputa and Rapid City. She graduated from Rapid City High in 1946. She married John W. Swanson in 1952 and together they had four children, who in turn gave them six wonderful grandchildren. Florence was an accomplished seamstress, who made beautiful draperies and clothing. Her cooking abilities included cookies, cookies and more cookies! There was never a shortage of cookies! Also loved were her dinner rolls, potato salad and lasagna, to name a few. Other accomplishments included camping, boating, volunteering, golfing, being a blood donor, BINGO playing, Rapid City election board and best of all loving and caring for her family. She enjoyed going to baseball, soccer, dance, music concerts, football, track, wrestling, volleyball, coffee parties and the knit wits club. AND she also taught all of her grandchildren to play cribbage and board games....those kids never lost to their Grandma! Florence and John lived at the Caputa ranch, in north Rapid and the Alps Apartments in Rapid City. They truly enjoyed entertaining friends and extending a warm welcome to all that came to visit. Florence is survived by Peggy and LeRoy Olesen, of Piedmont, Bart and Mary Swanson and Jane and Doug Beisner, all of Rapid City. Also surviving are her treasured grandchildren, Lee Olesen, his special friend, Tomi Burgad, Broc Swanson, Alec Swanson, Erin Shanker and her husband Jordan, Megan Beisner and Alison Beisner. Florence was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Bill Jr. and Fred (Fritz); her husband of 54 years, John; and their daughter, Debra. You are invited to join us in celebrating her life at Osheim and Schmidt Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 26. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 27, with the Pastor Herb Cleveland officiating. A memorial has been established for Meals Program and Canyon Lake Senior Center. We would like to extend a special thank you to the Alps Apartment residents and friends, Westhills Village staff and Osheim and Schmidt Funeral home. We appreciate you thoughtfulness and friendship.