Hugh van Swearingen, a long-retired resident of Townsend, died peacefully at home August 9, 2024 following a lingering illness. He was 86.
Hugh was an independent man who got things done on his own and rarely asked for help. He was an outdoorsman and in his senior years he enjoyed carpentry and built his own house. Hugh had a 24-year career with The Associated Press. He retired at the age of 54 and sometimes said, “I won the rat race.”
He was born January 1, 1938, in Butte to Hugh and Isabel (Kelley) van Swearingen, the second of their eight children. Throughout his boyhood years he was known as Butch. He and his brother David, younger by just 13 months and known as Mick, were inseparable pals.
Hugh was a graduate of Great Falls High and the University of Providence, Great Falls. He also studied at the University of Montana, Montana State University, Columbia University in New York City, and Portland Community College. He served eight years in the Army Reserve. He worked at the Anaconda Company smelter in Great Falls several times between college stints, and once in Los Angeles for a military contractor assembling components for artillery rockets.
Hugh and Janet Tovson, sweethearts since high school, were married in Great Falls in 1960. They raised two daughters and were together for 48 years until her death in 2008 when they were living in retirement near Townsend.
Hugh first got into the news business while in grade school as a delivery boy for the Great Falls Leader newspaper. He and Mick also sold the Leader on downtown street corners at a nickel each. The papers cost them two and one-half cents each, so they made a profit of two and one-half cents on each sale. If they sold 100 papers each, and they usually did, they each pocketed $2.50. Not bad for an after-school job for boys in those days. Economics at 2.5 cents a pop was a lesson in frugality that stayed with Hugh lifelong.
He got his first job as a news reporter in 1962 at the Lewistown Daily News. He joined the Montana Standard in Butte in 1964 and moved on to the Missoulian in Missoula as state editor in 1967.
In 1968 he began what was to become his career as a reporter, editor and manager with The Associated Press. His AP service included six years as newsman and later news editor in Helena, two years as correspondent and statehouse reporter in Bismarck, North Dakota, nine years as bureau chief in Helena and seven years as bureau chief in Portland, Oregon. He retired in 1992.
Hugh and Janet moved from Portland back to Montana in 1994, settling near Creston in the Flathead Valley and living there until 2000 when they sold their house, got rid of most of their belongings to live and travel in an RV trailer. They were avid hikers and backpackers, spending winters in Arizona and Utah and summers in Montana. A favorite hobby was hiking to remote ancient Indian ruins in Southwest desert country. They hiked extensively in Glacier National Park. In 2004 they bought a rural lot near Townsend and then spent several years building their own house.
After Janet died, he began seeing Nancy Marks and on her farm near Townsend soon learned that raising cows and growing hay was hard work. He said she kept him around because he was handy with a wrench and good at moving irrigation pipes. She sold the farm in late 2017, after which they made their home together at his house.
Hugh served eight years on the board of trustees of Broadwater Health Center, Townsend’s local hospital and nursing home. He later served on the board of the Broadwater Hospital District. He was a member of the Townsend Rotary Club.
During the last five years, he suffered increasingly from neuropathy which would eventually rob him of the ability to walk.
Hugh is survived by Nancy Marks, daughters Susan (Loren) Blossom, Helena, and Jenny van Swearingen (Bart Sevik), Missoula, and grandsons Taylor Blossom and Norris Blossom. Other survivors include sisters Mary Christine van Swearingen, Windsor, CA; Winnie (Juris) Ore, Helena; Vickie (Jerry) Edgar, Woolwich, Maine; and brother Carle, Livermore, CA. He was preceded in death by brothers Thomas (Donna) and Paul (Shelly), both of Great Falls, and David (Karen), Scappoose, OR.
Donations in Hugh’s name may be made to the Townsend Rotary, P.O. Box 1192, Townsend, MT 59644.
A Celebration of Hugh’s Life is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 23, 2024 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home with a reception to follow the service in the Social Hall of the funeral home. This service will be livestreamed and recorded for later viewing.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
1:00 p.m.
Friday August 23, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Friday August 23, 2024
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
1:00 p.m.
Friday August 23, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Friday August 23, 2024
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
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Sherry and Ward Scoffield says
Nancy and family of Hugh,\
We are saddened by the news of Hugh’s passing. Appreciated all that Hugh contributed to our hospital and Townsend.
Shelly Vanswearingen says
What a wonderful man Butch was. He was so great to the kids and I after Paul passed away. Will certainly miss our Helena lunch dates with Butch and Nancy.❤️
Karen van Swearingen says
So many years and so many memories!
I will miss Butch and our birthday phone calls.
My condolences to Nancy, Susan Jenny and all
his family. He was such good kind man.
Sharon Rains Potenza says
Hugh was a person who mattered. No matter which organization he was a part of, his input was straight and thoughtful and sound. We will all miss that twinkle as he imparted his opinion. So sorry for your loss Nancy and family.
Sue Barrett says
Portland OR is where I met Janet & Hugh. Janet and I became like “soul sisters” during their time in Portland.
It was difficult to hear that Hugh was having problems getting around due to his neuropathy. Susan & Jenny joined their mother and my two daughters on some of our “MONTANA HIKERS adventures to Granite Park & Sperry Chalets in Glacier National Park. The group today is in the Wallowa Valley in N.E. Oregon. Hugh kept in touch with me after Janet’s death. May they both “rest in peace”!! 💗
Jim Robins says
Hugh was simply the best boss I ever had, bar none, and I learned more about journalism from him than from all of the “experts” at the presigious journlismschool I attended in New York City.
I worked for Hugh from 1974 to 1976 in Helena. The AP office was inside the old Independent Record building downtown. In winter, I had to hang an extension cord out of the office window to plug in my engine block heater.
In 1975, Hugh, Billy Pratt, Billy’s dog Polly, Bob Ballard and I made a 4-day canoe trip up the Missouri. I’d never seen anything so stunnng in my life. I’ll never forget it. It left me with a love for Montana that will be with me until my last breath.
We had lunch in Portland about 10 years after I left Helena, then he and Nancy visited my wife and I in Santa Fe some years ago. It was so wonderful to again reconnect. And we visted with he and Nancy in Townsend a bit before or after that and got to sample Nancy’s amazing cherry pie.
Some people just leave a lasting impression, and Hugh was one of those people, and I am a better person for having known him.
Rest well Boss.
You will be so missed.
Karen Williams Rickert says
I have so many great memories of time spent in Great Falls with the van Swearingen family! Our condolences to you and God bless.
Joe Lamson says
Nancy and family,
Over the years I’ve always deeply appreciated Hugh’s fairness, decency and kind manner. His many good works have truly made Montana a better place in so many ways. Peace be with you.
Joe Lamson
Helena
Paul Putz and family. says
Our family, his many acquaintances, and the Townsend community were fortunate to have Huge von Swearingen as a friend. Hugh was bright, able, dedicated to the truth, and decent to the core. Hugh was also fun and affable – a boon companion with a big laugh that was a joy to hear. He had been around, as they say, and it showed. Hugh’s deep immersion in our region’s news imbued him with a realistic view of people, of issues, and of outcomes. Though naturally possessed of a cheerful nature, Hugh’s experience veined his outlook with a somber pessimism. When a crowd turned Pollyannaish, his careful words often brought the room to quiet contemplation. This did not deter Hugh’s will to battle on behalf of just and beneficial causes. Working on the hospital board brought out his grim warrior, and his bristling exposé of a corrupt prosecutor revealed a deep disgust of abusive authority. His character was steady, his commitment reliable, his devotion readily given. Hugh was a good friend and a good man. He will be missed.
Jill Canfield says
My uncle Hugh, Butch to me was a remarkable man.Our extended family was that much more evolved and enriched in so many arenas I cannot mention them all . He and Janet produced a family with such varied interests and talents and they inherited their intellect, humor, strength of character! Nancy helped Hugh to continue legacy and commitment to family,friends and community. I am fortunate to have been a part of the family that will always remember him in our hearts.
Mary Froelicher says
How we enjoyed our many times together with Hugh & Nancy. Always great conversations, nuts to nibble on, Nancy’s fabulous cooking, & our friendship. Thank you.
Don Brunell says
I met Hugh when I started at the Montana Standard and then at The Missourian. Mostly, I remember him from his days at the Associated Press. He was a great editor and was invaluable in helping lots of us, especially those of us starting out as reporters learning to get right to the point. He was always a friendly voice. Excellent journalist and great guy.