Alumni honor Dean Swanson and Class of '24

An early lesson taught in La Conner schools is that it's far better to give than receive.

It's a value that Dean Swanson not only learned but has lived for much of his life.

June 1, Swanson, a 1975 La Conner High School graduate, found himself on the receiving end for a change when presented with the school's Outstanding Alumnus award in recognition of his remarkably generous spirit.

Swanson's giving nature was highlighted by his grandson, Kenai Zimmerman, Class of 2024, who formally introduced the honoree to a large audience at the middle school gym.

"He believes in the goodness of people," Zimmerman said of his grandfather, "and he puts others ahead of him."

Zimmerman cited several examples of Swanson's generosity, from paying to keep student-athletes entertained at state tournaments to buying meals for those on all-day sports trips to the San Juans.

In his remarks, Swanson said he was merely paying it forward after benefitting from the kindness of others while growing up on his family's farm north of town.

"People stepped up big time for Dean Swanson," he said.

Swanson fondly recounted the time during his freshman football season when Waterfront Café owners Tommy and Mildred Potter invited the team to a free spaghetti dinner at their restaurant. He remembered the kindnesses extended to him by the neighboring Erickson and Nelson families.

"This is a great community," Swanson said. "I've always felt safe, loved and cared for here."

Welcomed with a standing ovation from those attending the 110th annual La Conner High School Alumni Association Banquet and Program, Swanson blended humorous asides with sage advice for this year's graduates.

At one point he channeled his inner Austin Swanson – a revered late uncle renowned for his clever wit, always expressed with a Scandinavian accent – even past his 100th birthday.

Shifting to a more serious tone, Swanson asked the graduating class to join him on a virtual bus ride on the "road of life."

He told the class that at various stages of their metaphorical road trips they will face important choices over which routes to take.

"Go out and make a good life," Swanson said.

He envied the Class of '24 for having a long road ahead.

"For my classmates and me, as we enter retirement, we're looking at going down the road at about 25 miles per hour," he said. "And when we look in the rearview mirror, we see the road behind us getting longer. And when we look ahead through the windshield the road is getting shorter."

Twenty-seven members of the class attended the event, which included a dinner catered by La Conner Seafood & Prime Rib House. Alums afterward praised the class response delivered by Josi Straathof as well as Sammy Williams' invocation and Brogan Masonholder's benediction.

Several speakers were called upon to represent their respective reunion classes ending with the digit 4.

"Seventy years ago," said Joe McGrath of the Class of 1954, "we lived with the hopes and dreams that the present graduating class has. I can tell them that exciting times are ahead, and we wish them all the very best of luck."

Herb Cram, representing the Class of 1964, similarly extended well-wishes to the new graduates.

John Agen, a La Conner School Board member and 1974 graduate, shared the positive impact teachers Miriam Nelson, Dixie Maloy Otis, Arnold Torseth, Marianne Hedlund, Ralph Dalseg, Steve Crawford and Landy James had on his class.

"La Conner was a fabulous place to grow up and a great place to go to school," Agen said.

It wasn't just reunion class members who were acknowledged. Roger and Dorothy Dalan and Sybil Jenson, all 1953 graduates, received accolades for being the most senior alums in attendance.

La Conner Alumni Association President Jim Hernandez announced that the organization – the oldest active entity of its kind in the state – has awarded scholarships to graduating seniors Logan Burks, Kailey Carlson, Morgan Huizenga, Abigail Udlock, Zimmerman and Masonholder, and to post-graduates Hadley Shears (Western Washington University) and Rachel Cram (Whitworth University).

In addition, Hernandez said the association had donated $1,000 toward the senior class trip to Southern California.

"This year's senior class wasn't able to raise as much money (as usual) because of Covid," Hernandez said.

As the program wound down, association board member Patsy Good offered a bittersweet ode about aging, entitled "We Suffer Silently." The verses alluded to inevitable bouts with aches, pains, stiffness and soreness.

Master of Ceremonies Gary Eldore, Class of 1979, confirmed Good's assessment.

"Class of 2024," he said, "you don't know how true that is."

But for three magical hours on Saturday everybody in the room – regardless of age and buoyed by memories – felt young again.