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.
Any Donations in Hugh’s name may be made to the Townsend Rotary, P.O. Box 1192, Townsend, MT 59644.
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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Stephen D Graham says
Hugh was a great mentor, a good friend and an outstanding human being.
He was news editor in the Helena bureau of the Associated Press when I joined the AP in 1974 and patiently brought me up to speed on the demanding job.
Later, we reconnected in Portland, Ore. where he was AP bureau chief.
Lorrie & Gail Vennes says
Nancy and family,
Hugh was a true gentlemen and he was also true to his word. It was a pleasure to have known him.
We pray that your memories will help you all through this difficult time.
Our Sincere Sympathy,
Frank Peters says
Our sympathy to you Nancy. We will miss having Hugh as a neighbor. It sounds like he had an amazing career and great and interesting life. Frank & Shila