Daughter of Frank E Beumer and Lydia C Linstrot Beumer Born 11 January 1929 On the family farm in Holland, Indiana Died 11 March 2019 at the age of 90 Surrounded by family in Mapleton, Utah Garneta is survived by her sister Elinor D Weisman, her daughters Angela Johnson and Leah Davis-Swenson, her sons Keith Swenson and Mark Swenson, their spouses, and by her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She was born at home on the family farm in 1929, the first year of The Great Depression, where she learned to plant, harvest, feed the animals, milk cows, and drive the family Model T truck. At age 10 the Depression ended, WWII started that year and her 4 older brothers left to serve in the European and Pacific Theaters of War.
She was 16 when the war ended in 1945. Garneta married Chad Swenson, a handsome “Navy Man” after WWII and began her life of traveling. She lived in 8 states and visited all the remaining 42.
She lived outside the US on Naval Bases in Cuba and Guam and visited 13 other countries and territories. We sat around the dining room table one night and counted 46 different addresses where she had lived! But then she mentioned that she was sure she had forgotten a few.
Her office walls at home are adorned with business awards and plaques. She was a top Tupperware dealer, manager and distributor in Utah, Alabama and Louisiana in the 1960’s, worked for the Twins Baseball Organization in the 70’s, was instrumental in building the Tangerine Bowl Organization – now the Citrus Bowl, was inducted into the Citrus Bowl Hall of Fame in 1984, was the Top Sales Executive for Sheraton Hotels International in 1987, served as the Director in several national trade associations in the Hospitality Industry, and actively worked in women’s national executive sales organizations to promote equality for females and to provide scholarships for young women pursuing studies in that industry. She was a doer, a mover and a shaker.
Garneta was raised Lutheran and converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized by missionaries in the Pacific Ocean while living in Guam. She helped build the first LDS Chapel on Guam and was Sealed to Chad in the Salt Lake City Temple when they moved back to the states. She was an active and faithful member of her church and served in positions in the Sunday School, Seminary, Primary, MIA, Cub Scouts and Relief Society organizations at Church.
Garneta didn’t talk or complain about what needed to be done when presented with an opportunity or problem, she simply went to work and made it happen. When talking to a person who claimed to be depressed, tired, discriminated against or disadvantaged, her advice was simple, “well get over it, tomorrow morning get up and go to work on your problem, because nothing will improve until you do something about it! ” Garneta, Toots, Mom, or Grandma, it didn’t matter what you called her, how you came to be associated with her, or how she came into your life, you always knew that she loved you and supported you.
She will be missed by those of us still here. But we know that she is rejoicing with her husband, family, friends and loved ones who have already passed and more importantly with her Savior Jesus Christ and her Father in Heaven. Garneta was cremated on 15 March 2019.
Her graveside service will be held on 31 May 2019 at 10:00 am at the Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park at Camp Williams, 17111 1700 W, Bluffdale, UT 84065. After the graveside service all friends and family will be invited to join the family in a celebration of life at her favorite family picnic spot up Provo Canyon at South Fork Park, 4988 S Fork Rd, Provo, UT 84604 at Pavilion #2 at noon. Lunch will be catered at the park so just bring your appetite, your good spirits and your picnic outfits to change into.
Bathrooms are available at the park. Please RSVP if you will be attending the picnic to Keiths@shmcorp.com or 801-830-4401.
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