Sven Peterson

Nov 21, 1922~Oct 3, 2016

Passed away at Holy Family Hospital of complications from pneumonia and congestive heart failure. Swannie was born in Fredriksberg, Sweden to Nathaniel Pettersson and Esther Helsing. The family migrated to St. Maries Idaho when he was 10 months old. He graduated from St. Maries High school in 1940. He loved to reminisce about St. Maries and fishing the St. Joe with his brother, Ralph. After high school he joined the Army. He was in the 26th Infantry, 1st Division (The Big Red One) and landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

After the war, Swannie moved to Spokane and eventually started working for Larson Painting. He helped paint most of the hospitals in Spokane. In 1962 he met and married Bea Stickels and had an instant family with 4 teenage kids. In 1964 they added their own daughter to the mix. Swannie and Bea enjoyed many fishing trips with family and great friends for many years. After Bea died in 2012, Swannie moved to Fairwinds retirement community until this summer, when he needed a little extra help getting around. He then moved to Cornerstone Court where he received exceptional care until he left us.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Beatrice Peterson; his brother, Ralph Peterson; and step sons, David and Richard Stickels. He is survived by daughter Janet Peterson (David Nelson) of Spokane; stepdaughters Claire Lawson of Spokane, and Gayle Duncan of Aloha, OR; niece Merri Sutton (Ike) of Gig Harbor; and several step grandchildren and great grandchildren, including his “little girl”, Deryn Allen, who referred to him as “Grandpa Smen”.

A memorial service will be held at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home, 5100 W Wellesley, Spokane, WA, on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 2:00 pm with a dessert reception immediately following.

Arrangements under the direction of Ball & Dodd Funeral Home, Spokane, WA.