Alice Ann McColley

Alice Ann McColley, age 83, of Wahpeton, ND, passed away on May 24, 2025, at Serenity Living of Sebeka, Sebeka, MN. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 2 pm, with visitation one hour before the service at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton. Pastor Shandon Klein will officiate the service.

Alice Ann Swanson was born on February 23, 1942, in Breckenridge, MN to C.R. "Whitey" and Edith (Klosterman) Swanson. She was baptized at the Fairmount Methodist Church. Growing up, Alice attended school in Fairmount, ND, and graduated from Fairmount High School in 1960. In 1964, she married George McColley. Their daughter Debra was born in 1966. The family traveled the world and moved often, making their home from Spain to Texas as George was with the United States Air Force. When George retired in 1997, the couple returned to his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. George passed away in 2001.

Alice returned to North Dakota to live closer to her extended family, making her home in Wahpeton, ND, for a time. When health issues, including Parkinson’s Disease, prevented her from living on her own, she resided at the MN Veteran’s Home in Fergus Falls and Serenity Living in Sebeka, MN, where she received excellent care.

Alice was an avid reader who could "make words sing" in her writing, and always "tested" herself with difficult puzzles. She loved fishing, shopping, and traveling.

She is survived by her daughter, Debra (Lee) Crase of Columbus, Indiana; her sister-in-law, Carmen Swanson of Fairmount, ND, sisters; Constance Smith, Carrollton, MO, Dorothy (Peter) Hermes, Ashby, MN and Carol (Bill) Kessler, Portland, OR; as well as many nieces, grand nieces, nephews and grand nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brother, Ron Swanson, and brother-in-law, Jim Smith. Burial will take place in Tipton, IN. Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton is in charge of arrangements.