Anita Ester Swift

ANITA ESTER SWIFT, age 76 of Waterville, died at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato on the morning of Sunday, July 2, 2023, shortly after being diagnosed with an aggressively advancing cancer.

Anita was born in Waseca on July 23, 1946, to parents Robert and Janette (Seljeskog) Byrne.  She attended school in Waterville before continuing her education at the Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis.  She worked for a short time at KTOE Radio in Mankato before her marriage to Donald Swift in 1966.  Shortly after Don finished his schooling they returned to Waterville where they raised their family together.  Anita went on to work for over twenty years as a teacher, education director, and site manager for Migrant Head Start in Montgomery, Elysian, and Waseca.  She enjoyed joining Don in baseball, golf, bowling, and horseshoes, and she enjoyed her previous involvement in cub scouts, girl scouts, school activities, church events, bowling events, and baseball picnics.  She was a long-time member of the Waterville Evangelical United Methodist Church.

Anita is survived by two children, Kevin Swift of Chippewa Falls, WI, and Robyn Swift of Waterville; four grandchildren, Marissa (Nate) Lenhart of Dallas, WI, Arica (Jackson) Wierenga of Chippewa Falls, WI, Teagan Swift of Chippewa Falls, WI, and Colin Swift of Waterville; and two great-grandchildren, Blaze and Lily Lenhart.  She is also survived by six siblings, LuAnn Byrne of Waseca, Bob Byrne, Jr. of Waseca, Donald (Debby) Byrne of Waterville, Linda Rumrey of Aberdeen, SD, Peggy Klotz of Owatonna, and Sharon Byrne of Waterville; and many nieces; nephews; and other friends and relatives.  She was preceded in death by both of her parents; her husband; and a brother, Jimmy Byrne.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Waterville Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service, and will continue for one hour before the service at the church on Friday.