Angeline Kathleen Schwan

Angeline Kathleen Schwan, 97, passed away peacefully on Feb 15th, in Ephraim, Utah. Born Nov 6th, 1928 in Aberdeen, SD to Joseph Anton Schwan and Magdalena Martha Richter, she was the fifth of nine children of immigrant parents, who came here from war-torn Russia, seeking a better life for their children. Angie was the first child born in the US. As a young woman, she met Duane L Angerhofer while waitressing in Aberdeen. They married in 1946 and began raising their family. They moved to the Black Hills in the 1950’s, living on the Igloo Army Base for years, then in the Black Hills. There she loved to hike the hills and search for clues to the ancient peoples who once lived there. After the closure of the base, the family relocated to Montrose, CO, where they welcomed their ninth child, Becky, into their clan.

Following a divorce, she took a position in a doctor’s office, where she discovered her calling in nursing. She returned to school, where she was awarded the degree of RN (Registered Nurse) from Mesa College. She embraced her profession wholeheartedly, dedicating herself to the care of others, and continued her nursing career well into her 80’s. In Montrose, she met and married Vernon L. McFarlin and together they had a son, Benjamin. She worked in the hospital before moving to Provo, UT. There she received a Bachelor’s degree from BYU, driven by a desire to go to Med School, and worked at the American Fork Hospital. Mom answered the call of opportunity and moved to Phoenix, AZ where she worked alongside surgeon Dr. Robert Beart at the Mayo Clinic. As his head nurse, she eventually followed him to Los Angeles, helping manage his clinic, while living in South Pasadena. She survived the 6.7 mag Northridge Earthquake of 1994, shaken but resilient as ever.

Mom’s life was guided by a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. She served an LDS mission to Yekaterinburg, Russia from 1999 to 2001, returning to the land of her forefathers, caring for others with her testimony, compassion, and commitment. She spoke of this experience to the very end. She moved back to Utah, living in Draper and retiring in Mt. Pleasant, where she lived comfortably until her passing, surrounding herself with cats (most of them orange) and her family history. She would often relax to old Westerns on TV and her favorite folk music.

Angie was the last of her siblings, and was preceded in death by her children Philip (Lisa) Angerhofer and Amy (Eli) Romero. She is survived by her children Cynthia (Bill) Balaz, David (Elaine) Angerhofer, Kathy (Charles) Bell, Norman (Sheila) Angerhofer, Paul (Rebecca) Angerhofer, Daniel Angerhofer, Becky (David) Knotek and Benjamin McFarlin, and by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Through her life, she often spoke of living to be 90. Finally, at 97, her long and fulfilling journey has come to a close. She is free of this mortal coil, with its sorrows and struggles, and has been welcomed into the loving arms of those who lead the way: her parents, siblings, two children, a multitude of cats, and most especially, of her Lord, Jesus Christ.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 7th at 1 p.m. in the Wheeler Mortuary chapel, located at 211 East 200 South in Springville, Utah. Guests may visit the family prior to the service, from 12 to 1. Interment will be at the St. Mary's Cemetery at Aberdeen, South Dakota, at a later date, alongside her siblings and parents.

Condolences can be expressed to the family on this page.