Roy Swanson

Roy Edwin Swanson
September 24, 1939 – October 5, 2026

Roy Edwin Swanson, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on October 5th at the Grace Space in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Roy was born on September 24, 1939, in Friend, Nebraska, to Arthur and Lola (Aiken) Swanson. An only child, Roy grew up in Friend and graduated from Friend High School in 1957.

Roy married Berdean "Berdi" (Friesen) on April 22, 1961, in Henderson, Nebraska. Together, Roy and Berdi raised their daughter, Cheri Ann, and son, Matthew Scott, building a life centered on family, hard work, and shared memories in Lincoln.
Roy spent more than 30 years as a professional truck driver and proud member of Teamsters Local 554, including most of his career with Yellow Freight. Retirement suited him well, and he spent the next three decades traveling, enjoying classic cars, visiting friends, and living life on his own terms.

Anyone who knew Roy knew he could be ornery and stubborn, but those same qualities were part of what made him uniquely Roy. He never knew a stranger, loved visiting with people, and could turn a chance encounter into an hour-long conversation. He spoke his mind, rarely backed down from an opinion, and left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Roy's greatest gift was his ability to make friends wherever he went, and many of those friendships lasted a lifetime.
He had a lifelong love of old cars and enjoyed collecting and restoring classics, including a 1959 Chevy Impala, a 1923 Ford T-Bucket, a 1954 Ford pickup, a 1959 Buick, and many others.

Roy especially enjoyed watching his granddaughters play sports, attending car shows, trying his luck at the casino, and spending time with family and friends.

Roy was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Berdi; his parents, Arthur and Lola Swanson; his in-laws, Ben and Bernice (Doell) Friesen; and his daughter, Cheri Nelson.

He is survived by his son, Matthew (Sara) Swanson of Kansas City, Missouri; his son-in-law, Layne Nelson of Lincoln; granddaughters Ashley (Kenny) Lawson of Elkhorn, Nebraska, and Morgan (Matthew) Drommond of Lincoln; and great-granddaughter, Izzy Lawson.

Roy has been cremated. The family will receive visitors at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 4 PM to 6 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Grace Space.