Philip Clifford "Swede" Riveness

1934 - 2011

Fairbanks resident Philip Clifford Riveness, 76, passed away April 18, 2011, at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.
Phil, or "Swede" as everyone called him, was born May 25, 1934, in Tacoma, Wash. His father, Knute Riveness, had immigrated from Norway and his mother, Ruth, from Sweden.
Swede married Leslee Ward and they had three children. During their marriage, Swede served in the U.S. Air Force. They later divorced.
He was employed as a salesman at Victory Plating Inc. in Washington. In the early 1980s, Swede moved to Fairbanks and began working for Roger McPeak at his gravel company.
He met Ruby Gorrod while playing darts and they shared the next 15 happy years together.
A longtime employee of HC Contractors Inc. in North Pole, Swede was the company expediter and was highly regarded and dearly loved by his co-workers.
His children remember Swede as a fun-loving happy dad. He enjoyed taking his kids fishing and to ball games. Family was very important to him and he would visit his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the Lower 48 as often as possible.
Swede is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Irene Riveness of Lake Havasu, Ariz., daughters, Kristin Riveness of Graham, Wash., and Lisa Bachand of Tacoma, Wash.; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers, Kenneth Riveness of Elma, Wash., and Paul Riveness of Whidbey Island, Wash; and his sisters, Anne Henderson of Lynnwood, Wash. and Ingrid Riveness of Edmonds, Wash.
The family will hold a private service at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the Riveness family at 5201 44th Avenue Court East, Tacoma, WA 98443.
Memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.