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Mary Elizabeth ‘Billie’ Swendig, 92
Mary Elizabeth Swendig, or “Billie” to all who knew her well, passed away Friday, Oct. 26, 2018.
She was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, on March 3, 1926, to Holly and Ruby Ferguson. The family resided in Paradise, Mont., where she attended grade school. She graduated from Plains High School in 1943. Many fond memories came from the old days of steam engines and her dad Holly’s stories as a Northern Pacific Railroad engineer. She went on to college at WSU and loved hearing his special two-long-and-a-short train whistle as he passed through Pullman, Wash.
A member of Sigma Kappa and a member of Psi Chi, a National Psychology Honorary, Billie graduated in 1947 with a B.S. in psychology. She was employed as a social worker by the State of Washington and due to her love of children, returned to school at Holy Names College to earn her B.A. in education and went on to become a 5th-grade teacher.
In 1956 she married her lifelong dance partner, Joe Swendig. If there was a hardwood floor and a band, they were swinging on it. They moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, in 1963 and opened Joe Swendig Insurance, where she managed the office and their busy lives.
In 1978 they sold the agency and moved to Laclede, Idaho, to become cattle ranchers. Billie’s Montana roots ensured their success. When the physical work of ranching became too much they moved to the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, area to be closer to family.
Her dancing days with Joe ended with his passing in May of 2013. She moved to a lovely apartment in Garden Plaza in 2016 for the camaraderie but continued to dream of a little home with a white picket fence in Paradise. She kept active and busy, vacationing with family in New York, New Orleans and Kauai. She was the life of the party and the designated driver for weekly Pinochle games and lunch with the girls until an inattentive driver broadsided her car, resulting in life-changing injuries in May of 2018.
“We lost a good one, through the things she taught us, the love she gave us. Her spirit will live with us forever…”
Billie is survived by her three children: son, Jon and wife, Nanette; daughter, Julie Danielson and son, Andrew and wife, Linda. She has five grandchildren, Casey, Jason and Holly Swendig, Havilah and Sean Danielson and great-grandson, Tristan Danielson. Tristan just calls her ‘Great.’
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, in the Clay Larkin Room at Garden Plaza, 545 Garden Plaza Drive, Post Falls, Idaho.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the wonderful people at Auburn Crest Hospice who were instrumental in easing her passage. 1221 W. Ironwood Drive, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.