Mary Ellen "Tootie" Swanz

Mary Ellen Swanz, age 87, of Standburg, SD passed away on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at Avantara Care Center in Lake Norden, SD surrounded by her family. Funeral service will be held at 1:00pm on Wednesday, August 13th at the Houseman Funeral Home in Clear Lake, SD. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7pm on Tuesday, August 12th at the Houseman Funeral Home in Clear Lake, SD. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Waverly, SD. Houseman Funeral Home of Clear Lake, SD has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Mary Ellen Swanz was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 18, 1938 at St. Luke's Hospital to parents John and Gertrude (Jackson) O'Halloran. Her mother died during childbirth so on July 4th, 1938 Mary Ellen arrived in South Dakota to be raised by her aunt and uncle Frank and Margie Hupf near Kranzburg, SD. She attended Catholic school in Kranzburg and then attended and graduated from Waverly High School in the class of 1957. She met Don Swanz in 1958 and on May 28, 1960 they were married at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kranzburg. To this union they were blessed with five children that they raised together on their farm north of Goodwin.

Tootie enjoyed doing crafts along with crocheting, knitting and needlepoint. She loved playing bingo and cards, especially pinochle. In her younger years she enjoyed bowling and raising her garden and canning her harvest. Spending time with friends and family was very important to her, especially time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Tootie never met a stranger, she truly enjoyed visiting with people.

She was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary, Post 750; the Fun Club and the senior citizens group in Goodwin.

Grateful for having shared Tootie's life are her five children: Linda (Miguel) Salas, Sioux Falls, SD, Jeff Swanz, Clear Lake, SD, Mary Kay Thompson, Spring Creek, NV, David (Anna) Swanz, Warrensburg, MO and Pati Reiners, Gulf Breeze, FL; nine grandchildren: Matthew (Rebecca) Thompson, Sioux Falls, SD, Samatha (Brandon) Johnson, Tea, SD, Brittany Thompson, Chandler, AZ, Amber (Noah) Thompson, Sioux Falls, SD, Erika (Tucker) Thompson, Council Bluffs, IA, Alivia Reiners, Chicago, IL, Joshua (Rebecca) Brenden, John (Keela) Brenden, Jeffery (Yuki) Brenden; her great-grandchildren: Madison and Anna Johnson, Iris, Alex, Emily, Lita and Sophia Brenden along with numerous in laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don; one granddaughter, Josie Reiners and son-in-law, Brian Thompson.