Jean M. Swift

Jean Marie Betchwars Swift passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 25, 2025 in Jackson, MN following a brief illness.

Visitation will be on Monday, January 5, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at St. Paul Catholic Church in Comfrey, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery. Burial will take place at the St. Paul Catholic Cemetery in Comfrey, MN.

Jean was born on November 15, 1936, to Joseph and Edna Betchwars at the family farm in New Richland, Minnesota. The family later moved to Waseca, where Jean grew up and graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic School.

She married Mark Swift on June 1, 1957. The couple moved to Mankato, where Jean worked at Mankato State and welcomed their first son, Steven. After Mark's graduation, they relocated to Comfrey, Minnesota, where their second son, Joseph, was born. While living in Comfrey, Jean devoted herself to her family as a homemaker and also worked at both the Comfrey Catholic and Public Schools.

Jean was a true free spirit with many passions. She could hardly remember a time when she didn't have a beloved pet or two by her side. She especially loved her birds and the meadow at their Comfrey home. A marvelous cook, Jean delighted in preparing family favorites and experimenting with the latest recipes from the Star Tribune. She was a voracious reader, often juggling several books at once. Her creative talents led her to painting, ceramics, quilting, knitting, and many other artistic pursuits. Jean and Mark shared a love of camping and travel, enjoying many trips with their family and later on their own during retirement.

Jean was deeply involved in her community. A devoted member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Jean's faith was central to her life, and she served her church in many capacities. She served as a member of the Comfrey Library Board, reflecting her lifelong passion for the written word. She was also a founding member of the Prairie Samplers Quilt Guild.

Jean is survived by her sons, Steven Swift and his wife Renee of Jackson, Minnesota, and Joseph Swift and his wife Alicia of New Ulm, Minnesota; grandchildren Sara Swift, Samantha Swift, Cassie Getting (Jalen), Maggie Swift, John Swift, and Matthew Swift; and great-grandchildren Ruthie, Lee, Lydia, and Brynne Getting.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband Mark, her parents Joseph and Edna Betchwars; sisters Lucille Casper and Joann Knuth; and many beloved pets.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials be directed to the Comfrey Library or the Brown County Humane Society.