Goodland, KS resident Theodore "Ted" Harold Swayne, 86, passed away after a long illness at Goodland Regional Medical Center on March 31, 2023.
Ted was born on December 1, 1936, NE of Kanorado to Henry Franklin Swayne Sr. and Wilma Ethel (Doggett) Swayne. He was one of 7children. He attended school in Kanorado, KS and graduated Kanorado High School in 1955.
Ted married Gertrude Leona Schritter January 25, 1955, in Clayton, New Mexico. Following their marriage, they lived in Cozad, Nebraska, Monticello, Utah, Cortez, Aztec and Farmington, New Mexico, before returning to Kansas in 1961. After moving to Goodland, Kansas, Ted was self-employed building aluminum awnings and carports in the area before moving to Kanorado, Kansas, to manage the Kanorado Co-op Lumber Yard for several years before going to work with the Kanorado School District as Custodian and School Bus Driver. His dream was to be a farmer. In 1974 he had the opportunity to start farming. He retired from farming when he turned 80.
Ted was extremely involved coaching little league baseball when his sons were growing up. Some years he coached 3 different teams that each had 1 to 2 games per week. He bowled on a mixed bowling league with his wife Gert for years. He enjoyed an occasional trip to Blackhawk Colorado (which he referred to as going up the mountain) for some leisure entertainment. He enjoyed watching and following the Denver Broncos Football and the Colorado Rockies Baseball teams. Ted was a member of the BPOE Elks in Goodland, Kansas for over 50 years. Ted loved his family. He enjoyed county fairs, music shows, pitching horseshoes and parades (several years ago he and Gert were the Grand Marshals in the Kanorado Day Parade).
Surviving family includes his wife Gertrude Swayne of Goodland, Kansas, two sons Marlyn Swayne (Brenda) of Hays, Kansas, Marvin Swayne (Cindy) of Wichita, Kansas, and one daughter Marlene (Brad) Vickrey of McPherson, Kansas; three grandchildren, Michelle (Spencer) Goff, Shannon (Dusty) Swayne, Ryan (Elizabeth) Swayne; four great grandchildren, Mason and Aeris Goff, Jackson and Emry Swayne, and one Brother Dee (Bonnie) Swayne.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Franklin Swayne Sr. and Wilma Ethel (Doggett) Swayne, his In-Laws Rudolf and Christina Schritter, and a son Mark Dale Swayne; one brother Henry Franklin Swayne Jr., and four sisters, Jean Fick, Peggy King, Clara Stone, and Doyce Pratt.
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