Carmen Maria Swartwout

Colton - Carmen Maria (Zinter)Swartwout, 31, of Colton. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004, at the Christian Reformed Church, Colton. Burial will be in the Colton Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26th at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Colton.

Carmen Maria was born July 13, 1973, in Ellendale, N.D., to parents Jeff and Marie (Gully) Zinter. She grew up in Aberdeen and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School where she was the Head Drum Major for the band. She graduated from Northern State University Magna Cum Laude with a teaching degree.

Carmen married Matthew Swartwout July 25, 1997, in Sioux Falls. After their marriage they moved to Winner where she taught school. In 1998 they moved to Colton. Carmen has worked for Wells Fargo Financial until her health forced her to retire. Carmen died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at her home.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Matt, Colton; two daughters, Keturah and Grace, both at home; her mother, Maria Zinter, Aberdeen; her father and his wife, Jeff and Tonya Zinter, Frederick; her sisters, Katlin, Chelsey and Hattie Zinter, Frederick; her grandmother, Agnes Gully, Sioux Falls; her mother and father-in-law, Ellen and Bruce Swartwout, Baltic; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Francis Gully, Betty and Raymond Zinter.

Carmen's husband and children were the love of her life. Her family was important to her and she will be loved and missed forever. Casketbearers will be Rick Gully, Brian Gully, Kenneth Gully, Mike Gully, Dylan Gully and Dan Zinter.

A Trust Fund has been established for her children at the US Bank in Colton.
This obituary was originally published in the Aberdeen American News.