Ernest Eddie Swanson passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, April 28, 2026, at his home in Arizona. He was born in Maddock, North Dakota, on Feb. 25, 1942, son of Paul A. Swanson and Lottie W. Stevens. He grew up on their farm near Esmond, went to grade school in Hesper and attended Benson County Agricultural Training School, the High School in Maddock. He went to Jamestown College, and then Wahpeton State School of Science, where he studied pre-engineering. At that time, he was drafted into the military and chose a reserve position with the National Guard.
When he returned to North Dakota, he married Marilyn Cole and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to get work. Donaldson Company was Ernie’s first real job. It involved engineering, product testing and project management. He worked there for 11 years. Before he left, he became their Senior Project Engineer and oversaw the construction of several new manufacturing buildings. When the economy tanked in 1975, he had just finished building their new building, and he was caught with nothing to do.
His experience in construction and engineering landed him a job with Rauenhorst Corporation (Opus Corp. and then Normandale Properties). During his 13 years there, he was promoted to Vice President of Operations, which meant traveling to many cities to meet with the Property Superintendents of the Opus properties. It was at that time, during a business trip to Tampa, that he met Beverly. They married and she moved with him to Bloomington, Minnesota. During the 13 years he worked for Opus companies, he became known for his engineering prowess, his talent in working with people, his kindness and his thoughtful approach in analyzing problems.
He and Beverly incorporated Escom Properties, Inc., in May of 1988. Over the next 23 years, he grew the company to manage 30 different properties, working in Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Seattle.
Ernie was an inventor. He created a tool that would lift landscape edging, and after submitting his plans to the United States Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, it received a patent in 1992.
Ernie always had motorcycles. From first buying an inexpensive small bike, repairing it and selling it, he worked his way up to a touring bike. During the Harley-Davidson hype, he tried two different Harleys, but always returned to the Honda Gold Wing. He and his brother, sometimes with their sons, took many week-long trips out West to ride in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, or to the desert Southwest.
He loved airplanes. He received his private pilot’s license in 1991 and bought a 172 Cessna airplane. He was an avid flyer, flying as far as Billings, MT, Cookville, TN, Lubbock, TX and Lake Havasu City, AZ. He built his own hangar, built his own Kitfox IV airplane, started the local Experimental Aircraft Chapter in Siren, Wisconsin, and was heavily involved in the EAA Young Eagles Program (total flown was 280 young people) and many Burnett County Airshows.
He was a man’s man: strong, yet tender. A man with a great big heart and a bundle of jokes that would bring his friends to their knees laughing! He was a very thoughtful man. A truly Christian man, he was devout and evangelical, hosting Bible studies for the children in his neighborhood on Saturdays, having daily night-time devotions with his own 5 children, and serving on congregation councils in 3 different churches through the years. He was a Stephen Minister and a mentor to many. During his last months, he called Bev’s brother in Sweden three days week and they would read the Bible together.
Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Lottie Swanson; brother; Merlyn; and his daughter, Kelly. Ernie is survived by his wife of 38 years, Beverly; his children Greg (Cathy) Swanson, Kimberlee (Steven) Ross, Wendy (Steve) Johnson and Cynthia Swanson; and 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and many friends.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026, at North Heights Lutheran Church, 2701 Rice St., Roseville, MN 55113, at 11 a.m. Visitation at 10 a.m. with lunch following the service. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his honor to the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc., Young Eagles program. Go to EAA.org/donor.
