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Richard "Dick" Swenson (January 16, 1927 - October 22, 2012)

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Dick Swenson of Sequim died on October 22, 2012, with his family by his side.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lee; four children, daughters Barbara Corpe of Sequim and Holly (Steve) DeKeater of California, and sons Eric (Betty Kay) of Maryland and Marc (Anneta) of Alabama; and grandchildren Roy Corpe, Jenna DeKeater and Amber Braman. He is survived also by his brother, Ben (Joyce) of California. 

A graduate of the Kent High School Class of 1945, he joined the Navy and was sent to Naval Air Station Ford Island on Oahu, Hawaii, working to get Navy fighter aircraft ready for mothballing. 

Earning his aircraft and engine license, he was hired by Boeing and spent 37 years — two stints in California and 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida — launching missiles, ending his working years as manufacturing manager at the Wichita, Kansas, plant.

He spent his 50th birthday swimming for his life off the coast of central California when the boat he was fishing on broke up and sank half a mile offshore.

He spent his 60th birthday on assignment in China, where, at a banquet in his honor, he remembered to eat the fish's eye.

After retiring, he and Lee traveled the U.S. in their motor home for several years, finally coming home to Washington to settle in Gardiner. They enjoyed reuniting with Dick's Beslow cousins and the Kent High School Class of '45 RV group.

A man of many talents, he could repair just about anything, as well as make beautiful jewelry and stained-glass pieces. He had an exceptional green thumb, creating gardens wherever the family lived.

His love of family came first, but fishing was always a close second. 
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