RAPID CITY- Stella Maris Swanson, 85, died Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Stella Maris was born to the late Henry and Mary Buthe, November 11, 1926, in Alexandria, SD. Her parents acquired a farm in Carthage where she lived until she moved as a high school freshman to Argonne, SD. She then attended nursing school in Aberdeen. After the loss of a cherished patient, she decided nursing was not her calling. In 1947, she moved to Sioux Falls where she worked as a telephone operator. It was there that she met and fell in love with Leonard Swanson who was an engineering student at SDSU. She was easy to love; intelligent, witty, and beautiful. She married "Swanny" on March 26, 1951. They lived together in Brookings and later relocated to Rapid City in 1952. Stella Maris was a devout catholic. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters and recently received a 50-year pin. It was her faith and devotion that created this incredible person. Most important to Stella was her family. She was an accomplished cook and baker. A family favorite was her cherry pie made with harvests from her many gardens. Sunday dinners were most special. The addition of clergy and family friend was not unusual. Stella was very protective of her children. She always commented that her children were rarely ill due to the fact that her house was germ free. It was always impeccable as were her babies. Her love was abounding and her patience unending. Truly a mother anyone would aspire to be. Her name Stella Maris means "Star of the Sea." She was all that and more. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leonard F. Swanson "Swanny", brothers, Clem, Henry Jr., and Raymond, and grandchild Samuel Vaughn Hight. Stella is survived by her children, Leonard Swanson Jr; Rebecca Jones; Steve and Lisa Swanson; all of Rapid City; Paul and Deborah Hight, Sturgis; and Barbara Davis, El Paso, TX; six grandchildren, Andrew Davis, San Diego, CA; Jessica Jones, Helena, MT; Nychole Crawford, Tuscon, AZ; Danielle Swanson, Madison, SD; and Paul and Hollie Hight, Sturgis, SD; two brothers, Ralph Buthe, Howard, SD; and Kenneth Buthe, Dell Rapids, SD. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with 7 p.m. Christian Wake services Friday, June 15, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 16, at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Tyler Dennis presiding. Interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. A memorial has been established to Rapid City Regional Hospital Auxiliary Hospice House.