Walter "Walt" L. Swope

Long-time Resident Walt Swope Dies

Funeral service was held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Peet Chapel for Walter Swope, 75, who died May 21 at his home in Lusk.

Pastor Lee Williams, Manville conducted the service and Mrs. A. F. DeCastro was organist. Mrs. Betty Oehlert, Lance Creek, sang "What a Day that Will Be" and "He Touched Me."

Casket bearers were Bud Morgan, Noel Larson, Richard Ladwig, Gene Harris, Richard Kant, and Howard Haworth. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Walter L. Swope was born Oct. 29, 1897, to Charles and Mattie J. Smith Swope in Nemaha County, Neb. At the age of 12 he came with his family to Crawford, Neb., by covered wagon. The family then homesteaded near Whitman, Wyo. He went to school and grew to manhood in the Whitman Community.

Nov. 9, 1935, he married Mrs. Reta Butler and they made their home in North Niobrara County. Two daughters were born to the marriage. In 1949 they moved to Lusk where he made his home until his death. Mr. Swope carried the mail from Lusk to Chadron during this time.

His parents, one daughter, Marjorie, a step-son, Gordon Butler, two brothers and one sister died previously.

He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Mrs. Ruth Reed of Lander; two stepsons, Oliver and Murray Butler of Keeline; two sisters, Cora Leeling, Manville and Velma Hamlin, St. Maries, Ida.; and one brother, Bill Swope of Centralia, Wash. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

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