Brenda Pamela (Marshall) Swanson

"Brenda Pamela Marshall was the second of two twins born on July 23, 1963 as US citizens born abroad in Frankfurt, West Germany to US Army soldier James Robert Marshall and his wife Helen Marilyn Marshall.  After diagnosing the girls with cerebral palsy, doctors recommended institutionalization for the girls.  Their mother would have none of that, being determined to raise the girls herself and to provide whatever community-based options to her girls she could.  As a baptized Jehovah's witness since 1955, Helen was determined to raise all of her children in "the Truth".  Her efforts resulted in both of her daughters being baptized as Jehovah's Witnesses in June of 1983 and her son Tim being baptized as well at another time.

"Helen's determination regarding her daughters' disabilities and serving Jehovah instilled in Brenda an equally intense desire to serve Jehovah and a determination to do whatever she could for herself despite her disabilities, thinking of herself as "handi-capable".  While she at one time was able to walk on her own albeit with a gait, repeated hip dislocations caused by her cerebral palsy resulted in her having to recover from hip surgeries in body casts twice.  While using wheelchairs temporarily during her recoveries, she acquired the nickname "Lady Hot Rod".  As her condition progressed, she went to using a walker full time and finally to using wheelchairs full time.  However, she did not let this stop her from traveling, using wheelchair-accessible buses to go everywhere and very much living up to her "Lady Hot Rod" reputation.  She could always be seen in her scooter wheelchair "on the go".

"On July 3, 1985, Brenda married Michael Swanson in Colorado Springs, Colorado.   After cautiously studying with Jehovah's Witnesses for 2 years, Michael joined Brenda in serving Jehovah on June 28, 1987.  Slightly more than two years later on September 22, 1989, the couple had their one and only child — their daughter Kathryn Marilyn Swanson.  As with everything else, Brenda did not allow her disabilities to prevent her from being a good parent as Kathryn grew up.  In fact, Brenda spent so much time with Kathryn at school and elsewhere that Kathryn would later describe her mother as being 'her best friend'.

"After a 5-month hospitalization during 2021, Brenda ended up being confined in bed nearly the last three years of her life because she could not sit up for long periods of time without being in intense pain.  Throughout her life — no matter what her medical and mobility situation was — Brenda only gave an occasional word of protest regarding her situation.  She always tried to be cheerful and encouraging to others.  Like all Jehovah's Witnesses, she believed that one day the earth would be restored to the Paradise Jehovah God intended it to be from the beginning and -- as demonstrated by Jesus Christ — all sicknesses and illnesses would be healed.  Brenda looked forward to the day when she would leave her wheelchairs behind and be able to walk, run, jump, and dance like everyone else.  That firm hope and faith kept her going through all of her trials.  As the primary focus of Jesus's work on earth was telling others about his Father and God's upcoming Kingdom government, Brenda did her best to participate in following Jesus's example and participating in as much as she could the worldwide preaching work for which Jehovah's Witnesses are so well known.

"Brenda's life came to an end on October 6, 2024 when she died from complications of a strangulated hernia.  She passed away peacefully with her husband,  one of her nieces, and 2 dear friends at her bedside.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.  Her kindness, generosity, and compassion will be dearly missed by all.  We look forward to the day when Brenda and the billions of others who have fallen asleep in death will "answer the call" and "leave the memorial tombs" to rise up and live once again.

"Brenda's brother Tim preceded her in death.  Brenda leaves behind her husband Michael, her daughter Kathryn, her son-in-law Logan, her sister Beth, and her brothers Daniel, Kevin, Richard, and Randy.  She leaves behind her sisters-in-law Brenda, Janet, Beate, Evelyn, and Nancy and her brothers-in-law James and Harley.  Her surviving nephews include but are not limited to David, Chad, and Dustin.  Her surviving nieces include but are not limited to Harmony, Jennifer, and Theresa (Tina) a.k.a. Kerri.

"In addition to family, Brenda leaves behind many, many friends.  Her family and friends feel a tremendous void in Brenda's absence."

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