Dephane Joyce Swaney

Dephane went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 2, 2018.

Dephane Joyce Swaney was the middle daughter of five daughters born to John Henry and Beulah Mae (Wilson) VanDenBerg on November 22, 1936, in Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1941 the family moved to Hand County, South Dakota, and she attended Hammitt Country School. She attended St. Lawrence High School where she played basketball, was the homecoming queen, and graduated in 1954. She met the love of her life, Stanley Warren Swaney. They were married on September 12, 1954.

In 1956, when Stanley went to work for Willis Dalby, they traveled working in a number of states including South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Iowa. In 1959 they went to work on the VanDenBerg farm. Stanley and Dephane later rented a farm on which they worked side-by-side, including milking sixteen head of cows by hand twice a day. In 1962 they moved to St. Lawrence, South Dakota, where she worked as a teller at the First National Bank in Miller, South Dakota, and they built their own home. In 1971, Stanley and Dephane moved their family to Colorado and she went to work for the Soil Conservation District in Walden. She also worked at North Park State Bank and North Park School District during their time in Walden. She returned to North Park State Bank until she retired in 1998.

Dephane was a member of the United Methodist Women and the North Park Women's Club from which she was named Woman of the Year in 2008. Stanley and Dephane were also members of the Snow Snake Snowmobiling Club and various bowling leagues. She enjoyed dancing, reading, and cooking. She made the best chicken and noodles in the family and everyone begged for her to bring her delicious berry pies to family get togethers. Dephane made a special effort to attend all the Wilson, VanDenBerg, and Swaney family reunions across the US. She loved to spend time with her family and snuggling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dephane was preceded in death by her parents; sister Sharon (Jack) Bryce, and husband Stanley.

She is survived by her three sisters: Wanda (Gene) Stevens, St. Lawrence, SD; Anita (Wilbur) Fremark, St. Lawrence, SD; and Beryle (Marvin) Sessions, Faulkton, SD. Her three children: Lynn Warren (Joyce), Farmington, NM; Timothy John (Missy), Pierce, CO; Pamela Jo LaCount (friend Ted Bina), Rifle, CO; six grandchildren: Darcy (David) Tenan, Ft. Collins, CO; Ashlee (John) O'Neil, Ft. Collins, CO; Tyler (Shayna) Swaney, Ogallala, NE; Chance (Elizabeth Pickett) Swaney, Ft. Lupton, CO; Zachary (Shanna) LaCount, Lovington, NM; Wade (Alexis) LaCount, Laramie, WY; Ryan (Melanie) Wells, Saratoga, WY; nine great-grandsons, Drew Shaw, Roman Picket, Tyler Steinmetz, Logan Wells, Roy and Kade Swaney, Owen O'Neil, Tucker Swaney, and Luke Tenan; six great-granddaughters, Haylie and Savannah Wells, Ashlyn Pickett, McKayla O'Neil, Sloan LaCount, and Setera Swaney. Adopted family Richard and Tami Spaulding, Joe and Andi Lance, and Chet and Linda Robben. She will be greatly missed by numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to North Park Community Church or the Jackson County Ambulance Service. A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 3:00PM at the Community Church in Walden, Colorado. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.