The Republican-Nonpareil | October 29, 2026

Greta Gay Swanson, 85, was ushered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 21, 2026.

A visitation was held on Monday, October 26th at Heartland Evangelical Free Church. A Celebration of Life service followed on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at Heartland Evangelical Free Church in Central City. Inurnment will be in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery, west of Bassett, at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family www.soltwagnerfuneral. com.

Greta Gay (Kurzenberger) Swanson was born on July 31, 1941 in Ainsworth, to Grayton and Kathryn Rose (VonHeeder) Kurzenberger. She grew up on the ranch northwest of Springview. After graduating from Keya Paha County High School in 1959, she attended Chadron State College, where she received her teaching degree. Greta met the “love of her life,” Kenneth Dale Swanson of Bassett, and they were united in marriage on December 25, 1961 in Ainsworth.

The couple began their married life living in Bassett with Greta teaching in country schools until God blessed them with three children. Greta had a heart for children to know the Lord, teaching Sunday school, children’s church, and cooking for the many campers at Camp Witness. In 1975 they moved to a new home they built in the country. Several years later, feeling called by the Lord, they moved to LaGrange, Wyoming to attend Frontier School of the Bible. In 1981, they moved to Central City, where Greta worked in the kitchen and shared her love for cooking at Nebraska Christian Schools. As a devout member of the Heartland Evangelical Free Church, she enjoyed being the church secretary and cooking meals for the youth group kids for many years. Greta’s life was centered around her love for the Lord, evident by the multiple missions trips including trips to Belgium and Brazil. It gave her great JOY, holding ladies Bible studies at her home. To meet her, you could expect a welcoming smile and for her to give you a warm, loving “HUG”—she knew no strangers, her love for people was so evident, and her even greater desire for you to know her Jesus she loved, with all her heart. She had a green thumb for growing indoor and outside plants/flowers and the garden veggies she loved to can.

Those left to cherish her memory is her husband, Kenneth of Central City; her daughter, Teresa Marousek of Iowa; her son, Rodney (Heather) Swanson of Kearney; her brother, Bill (Ellen) Kurzenberger of Bassett; her grandchildren and great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Brian Swanson; and sister, Kathryn Ann Kurzenberger. In memory of Greta, please spend time with your loved ones, plant flowers in your garden, or bake something for a friend.