Lyle Swor

Lyle Elias Swor was born October 14, 1927, in Duluth, Minn., to Sam and Emma Swor. He died February 17, 2011, at Triumph Hospital, Fargo, of natural causes. Lyle grew up in Duluth, graduating from Duluth Central High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Navy after graduation, serving in World War II and the Korean War. He graduated from Duluth Junior College with an accounting degree. After working in accounting for a few years, he decided he wanted to be away from a desk and out with people doing sales work. He joined the Glidden Paint Company as a sales representative and was promoted to Division Manager, moving to Fargo. He later joined Dakota Plate Glass Company as marketing manager and eventually became part owner. Lyle later established his own siding company, Siding Plus. Retirement was not part of his vocabulary and he started an advertising specialty company, Swor Marketing. He was actively working at the time of his death. Lyle was a very active person and loved life, music and being around people. He was a 53-year member of the Fargo Lions Club, past president and District Governor in 1976-77. Lyle was named to the North Dakota Lions Hall of Fame in 1991. The club nominated him in the business category of the Bethany Homes Senior of the Year program and he accepted his award in October. He was the Lions song leader for decades. Music was a big part of his life. He wrote and published several songs and loved singing at senior centers and for various programs. Although he could not read music, he spent many hours at his organ and piano. He is survived by his beloved wife and partner of 62 years, Elaine; son, Brian and his wife, Sandi, Fargo; daughter Leslee Pierce and her husband, Greg, Las Vegas; five grandchildren, Tamara, College Station, Texas; Kimberly Coon, St. Louis Park, Minn.; Adam, Fargo; Markee Daniel, Las Vegas; Chris Daniel and his wife, Stacy, Philadelphia; and two great-grandchildren, Noah and Olivia Coon, St. Louis Park; two sisters, Joyce Fortier, Rochester, Minn., and Donna Snodgrass, Boise, Idaho; two brothers, Ron, and his wife, Linda, Atlanta, and Terry, Shoreview, Minn. Lyle touched many people with his music and his genuine love of people. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. God bless his memory. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First Congregational UCC or the Lions Foundation of North Dakota. A prayer service will be Friday at 7 p.m. at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo. The memorial service will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m., First Congregational United Church of Christ, Fargo.