Billie Dawn Swenson

Billie Dawn Wheeler Swenson, of Mountain Grove, Mo., passed away in her home, Thursday, February 19, 2015 at the age of 82.
Dawn was born on March 11, 1932, in Rolla, Missouri, but she was raised in and around the Mountain Grove area most of her life. She met Carl Arnett Swenson in grade school and they were married years later on March 7, 1951 in Willow Springs, Missouri. They had four kids together and were able to experience the world with them, from living in several states to living in France.
They settled back down in Mountain Grove in 1975, where they owned and operated C & D (Cat & Dog) Car Wash, living right next door to keep management close. They moved to several different houses around town before settling down in their current home.
Twenty years later, in 1995, they retired together. Dawn and Carl took their first years after retiring and traveled; not only camping, but sight seeing the country. While traveling in their motor home around the country, her favorite trips were to the Northeast just before the fall season to watch the leaves change colors on the trees. At home, Dawn kept herself busy with many different activities such as painting, gourd crafts, crocheting, gardening, bird watching, and sewing. Gardening was her favorite activity. The first thing she would have someone do is show them or have them help her in her garden. She could also be found keeping up with all the latest technology from using a VIC 20 computer to the latest version of Windows, to being a Hamm Radio operator. She could talk about anything and everything at any given time. She enjoyed keeping up with her grand children and great-grand children on Facebook. She especially enjoyed when her children, grand children, and great grand children would come down and spend time with her.
Of course after they retired you would not see Dawn without Carl or vice-versa. To honor their lifetime commitment to each other the family is celebrating both the lives of Carl Arnett Swenson and Billie Dawn Wheeler Swenson on March 7th, 2015; which would have been their 64th wedding anniversary. All family members and friends will miss them both dearly.
She was preceded in death by both her parents: Ernest Allen Wheeler and Eddith Belle Bouldin Wheeler; her husband: Carl Arnett Swenson; and one daughter: Valerie Anna Swenson.
She is survived by her brothers: Steven Edward Wheeler and wife, Lillie of FL; Chris Allen Wheeler of Corpus Christi TX; her sisters: Mona Kay Wheeler Elmore of Willow Springs, MO, Karen Terrill Wheeler Fagan of Grain Valley, MO; her son: Michael Carl Swenson and wife, Geneva of West Monroe, LA; her daughters: Stephenie Dawn Swenson Fagan and husband, Charles, of Houston Lake, MO, Michelle Denise Swenson Brena of Ridgeville SC; her grandkids: Cristinna Lynn Soto Webber and, husband, JD of Kansas City, MO, Enrique Daniel Soto JR and wife, Shery, of Kansas City, MO, Renee Michelle Soto Biswell and husband, Larry, of Wentzville, MO, Daniel Alexander Swenson Fagan of Kansas City, MO, Joseph Michael Swenson Fagan and wife, Rachel, of Lawson, MO, Cari Anna Fagan of Houston Lake, MO, Jeremy Arnett Calderon Brena and wife, Diane, of Forest Hills, NY; Jason Eugene Brena and wife, Sarah, of Gray Port, SC, Steven Peter Brena II of New York, NY, Justin Allen Brena and wife, Angela, of Ridgeville, SC, Jennifer Lynn Neubeck of Ladson, SC, Marie Dawn Hicks and husband, Joe, of Mountain Grove, MO, Jessie James Taylor of FL; her great-grandchildren: JaiDe Lynn Webber, Baylie Michelle Webber, Claytin Dillan Webber, Shey LeAnn Wolfe, Wesley Thomas Stapp and wife, Jamie, Enrique Daniel Soto III, Kenneth Wesley Soto, Austin Edward Biswell, Julianna Renee Biswell, Lukas Wayne Fagan, Xavier Michael Fagan, Haley Grace Brena, Caleb Gage Brena, Reif Gabriel Brena, Gavin Pete Brena, Liam Allen Brena, Jayden Tyler Neubeck, Aaron Neal Taylor, William Cody Hicks, Joshua Lee Hicks, Thomas Joe Hicks; 7 great-great grandkids and one on the way: Manuel Joel Garcia IV; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.