Sanford Ernest Swanson, 86, longtime resident of Aberdeen, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, at 8 a.m., at The Cottages University Place of University Place, Washington.

Sanford was born on Sept. 25, 1938, in Litchfield, Minnesota to parents, Sandi and Georgia (Olson) Swanson. Sanford graduated from Litchfield High School in 1956, and attended St. Cloud University in Minnesota. In 1958, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He was able to travel throughout many states during his military career including California, North Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Washington. After his discharge from the Marines, Sanford attended Wichita State University in Kansas where he obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. There he married Helen (Shoemaker) Winter and had his daughter, Therese May. He worked as an insurance broker for many years then in advertising sales which took him all over the Midwest. While in Kansas he married Trish Blaine and had his sons Jason and Alek Swanson.

Sanford’s talent for sales eventually took him to the Enumclaw, Washington area. He worked as a salesman, creating calendars and pins selling to a variety of people and businesses. He loved to travel and found community in each area that he visited. Sanford enjoyed talking and working with people and his quick wit made him a successful salesman. Many remember the stories and jokes he readily told. He was a voracious reader, and lover of chess, savoring a great match, and playing whenever he could.

In 1989, he married Mery Logerstedt. Sanford and Mery managed properties and worked in real estate together in Tacoma and eventually moved to Aberdeen, Washington. Sanford was all about working for and with the people; he had a huge heart filled with love and compassion. Sanford was an active member of the Baha’i Faith Community. Sanford also worked as a para-educator for Ocean Shores School District, working with at-risk youth. He took his love for chess and used this to help the troubled teens open up and continue talking. Sanford took pride in this work and enjoyed being with the children. He loved Grays Harbor and the people within it. Sanford was a kind and thoughtful soul and will be remembered by the many lives he touched.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mery of Aberdeen, Washington; daughter Therese (David) May of Decatur, Georgia, and her mother Helen Winter; sons, Alek (Andrea) Swanson, of California, and Jason Swanson, of New York, New York, and their mother Patricia Blaine; stepson, Don (Pasha) Logerstedt, of Aberdeen, Washington; stepdaughters, Kate Reece, of Olympia, Washington and Sandra (Cliff) Classen, of Everett, Washington; grandchildren: Riley, Daniel, Rachel, Kassandra, Robin Christie and Gregory; and two great-grandchildren.

A family graveside service took place at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen, Washington. Please take a moment to share your stories or notes of condolence with the family at www.FernHillFuneral.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.