Abigail Montana Swanson

Abigail Montana Swanson

September 11, 2001 - August 11, 2023

BUTTE - On August 11, 2023, while she slept in her dorm bed, the Lord gently took Abigail Montana Swanson home. They say it was asthma.

Abby was our first child. We didn't know how much we could love until we saw Abby. She was beautiful and she was perfect. She was born in Mission Hills, CA on the infamous "9-11" day. While the world mourned, we celebrated.

Because she was an Army Brat Abby lived in nine different towns as a child.

Abby started school at Independent Elementary in Billings, Montana. After her 3rd grade year, the family moved to Butte, Montana where she started 4th grade at West Elementary. Abby loved West. She was part of the West Buff's Ski Club and the volleyball team, and the Tiernan Irish Dancers. Abby attended Butte's East Middle School where she went to New York City with the Travel Club. In 2016 Abby started at Butte High. During this time she learned to fly airplanes and often buzzed our house on West Platinum. While growing up Abby and family went to Disneyland once and to Disney World, Universal Studios, Legoland, and Sea World in Florida and Lagoon Park in Utah many times. Abby also went with friends to Silverwood Park in Idaho. She loved amusement parks but Disney was her favorite. She was saved by Christ and with family attendant Butte's Abundant Life Fellowship. Eventually Florida started calling her name so she graduated early and moved to Ocala, Florida, her mother's hometown, in January of 2020. She did return to "Walk" for graduation at the Butte Civic Center on May 27, 2020 then flew back to Orlando.

She learned to ski at the age of 5 and became an excellent skier. She never missed a season and skied all of Montana's best ski resorts.

In June of 2020 Abby's family moved to Ocala and soon after Abby moved to Orlando to attend Valencia Community College where she received her Associate's Degree. She transferred to the University of Central Florida in Orlando where she was pursuing a degree in psychology with the goal of following in her mother's footsteps and becoming a Mental Health Therapist. She went to Heaven a week before her senior year started.

Once in Orlando Abby had annual passes to Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World. She also started working as a "Bar Wench" at Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament. She loved that job and her co-workers.

In Orlando Abby absolutely blossomed. Everyone noticed. It was like the Florida sun was always shining on her and it reflected off of her brilliantly. In Orlando she started living her dream life, a dream life of good friends, college, amazing restaurants, mind blowing movie theaters, the world's best amusement parks, beaches, cruise ships, the Caribbean, road trips from Key West to Savannah and from Cocoa Beach to the Gulf Coast, and even a medieval Castle with a King and Queen and brave Knights in shining armor who all adored Abby.

Abby loved travelling and here is a list of some of the places she visited: New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Atlanta, Saint Louis, Denver, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami, Oahu Hawaii, The Bahamas, The Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cozumel, Castaway Key, Coco Cay, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Cedar Key, Key Largo and Key West and all the Keys between.

Abby also loved Star Wars and got to see "The Force Awakens" in Las Vegas, "The Last Jedi" at the famous Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, and "The Rise of Skywalker" in Honolulu.

Abby also loved the Muppets, particularly Kermit the Frog. It was through Kermit's song "The Rainbow Connection" that she started letting us know, even if she didn't understand it herself, that she was being called away again but this time home to Heaven. Kermit sings these words, "Have you heard the voices? I've heard them calling my name. I've heard it too many times to ignore it. It's something that I'm supposed to be. Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me." We didn't understand it then either.

Abby lived an amazing life. She knew she was greatly loved by her mother and father and her brother and sister, extended family, friends, and Jesus. If Abby could tell you herself, she'd say that, out of all her travels and experiences, the greatest thing she did was to ask Christ into her heart.

Abby went before Parents Jennifer & Tracy Swanson & Sister Chloe Swanson in Ocala FL, Brother Bridger Swanson in Spangdahlem Air Force Base Germany. Maternal Grandfather Charles & Step-Grandmother Ellen DeBerry in Dayton OH, Step-Grandfather Bud Tate in Orange City FL, Aunt Kristy Paquette & Cousins Lizzy & Olivia Laserna in Ocala, Cousin Charles "Ricky" Robbins in Denton TX. Paternal Grandmother Sandra Gilbert in Huson MT, Uncle Curtis & Aunt Jenny Vaile & cousin Teagan Vaile in Huson & Cousin Corbin Vaile in Missoula MT, and Aunt Jessica Vaile in Chandler AZ. Those that went before Abby are Maternal Grandmother Priscilla Tate, Uncle Phil Laserna, Aunt Sheryl & Paternal Grandfather Jim Swanson.

Abby was a remarkable person. Beautiful, honorable, loving. She also was very brave and quite hilarious. And in her last years here she became a leader. We thank God that he let us parent her for 21 years and 11 months. She was our first child to arrive and the first one to return back to our Father. She's in much better hands now.

We love you Abby and are extremely proud of you. We miss your constant laughter, your beautiful face, your daily calls telling us about the funny thing that happened to you that day but mostly we miss hugging you. We miss you more than words can say. Our hearts are truly broken and past mending, but we know you're safe and thrilled to be dancing with Jesus and Nana Priscilla and, of course, riding a roller coaster over a rainbow and "Swansonizing it" for all of us. We look forward to hugging you again in the Rainbow Connection, the Lovers, the Dreamers, and us, Abby.

On Friday September 1st, Abby's earthly body was laid to rest at Glen Haven Memorial Park, Winter Park, Florida with many family and friends in attendance on a beautiful sunny day. Glen Haven is just a short drive to Disney World, Abby's favorite place on Earth.

The Swanson Family would like to thank all of you who helped us through this very difficult time. We are forever grateful. God Bless you all!

Dance Abby. Dance!