Signe Swenson

EASTON- Signe (Lorentzen) Swenson, 64, of White Haven, passed away Tuesday, October 30, 2012 in Easton Hospital. Born in Oakland, CA on November 2, 1947, she was a daughter of the late Lloyd and Dorothy (Howard) Lorentzen. She was a graduate of Leilehua Hawaii High School. She attended community college for a year. She attended Berkely for a moment and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the School of Hard Knocks. She was a member in good standing of The Body of Christ. She was also a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Wilkes-Barre and the United Voices Choir. Over the years, Signe had numerous occupations; a Homeschooler, Ranch Cook, Gas Island Girl, Hula Dancer, Proprietor of a Natural Foods business and granddaughter raiser for 10 years. She was a believer, songwriter, musician, artist, scratch cook and baker, stickler for perfect speech and grammar, champion of the undertrodden, bookkeeper, list-maker, homemaker, professional thrift store shopper, enthusiastic Harley passenger and best of all friends. She is survived by her loving husband of 3 years, Alvin A. Swenson, III; her daughters Janeiro Bento and Maliakini Bento; sons Franklin Fulton, William Fulton, Jesse Ferguson and Ezra Ferguson; grandchildren Oliver, Cosimo, Milo, Niles, Lilly, Karita, Mallory, Ella, Aiden, Anika and Isaac; sister Inge Lorentzen and Tove Lorentzen. They talk about cancer survivors. This she was not, but she was a life survivor. Not a bed of roses, her life. She protected her children as best she could from predators of all types in the wilds of western Montana and then she raised one of her grandchildren who needed her for the first ten years of her life. She punched the time clock of loving her six kids and trying to keep them safe which was a full time job given the threats that surrounded her at times. Once all six were having their own children, she became “Besta” and loved all 11 of her grandchildren fiercely, which is the only way she loved. She was more than smart, more than sweet, more than funny, more than devoted to her Lord, to her family and to her husband. She was one of a kind. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Wilkes-Barre, with the Reverend Michael E. Brewster officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kniffen O’Malley Funeral Home, Inc., 465 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre.