Erik Christian Swanson

Erik Christian Swanson

Erik Christian Swanson passed away peacefully on July 19, 2026, at the age of 86. Born in Breckenridge, Colorado, Erik was raised in the small mountain community of Alma, a place that would remain his home and a central part of his life. He attended Alma Elementary School and graduated from South Park High School in 1960 before continuing his education at Lund University in Sweden.

After returning to the United States, Erik served in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Following his honorable discharge, he earned degrees in history and German from the University of Northern Colorado. He then returned once again to Alma, where he took up residence in the Mullock House, a home built by his mother's family in the 1880s.

The Mullock House would become the setting for much of Erik's life and family story. In 1976, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth Thompson. Together, Erik and Beth raised their two children in the home and built a life rooted in family, history, and community. They remained devoted to one another throughout their marriage, until Beth's passing in 2024.

Erik's lifelong love of history became not only a passion, but a calling. He served as Curator of the South Park City Museum and later as Director of the Cripple Creek District Museum, where his knowledge and dedication made him an indispensable authority on the history of Park and Teller Counties. He possessed a remarkable appreciation for the stories held within old buildings, treasured objects, and the people who came before us, and he devoted much of his life to preserving those stories for generations to come.

After a short retirement, Erik and Beth opened Rimfrost Antiques on Front Street in Fairplay. There, their shared affinity for all things historical became another way to connect with the community they loved. Through their work, their home, and their lives together, Erik and Beth became part of the enduring story of the place they called home.

Erik will be remembered for his deep knowledge of history, his love for his family, the mountains and the community of Park County, and for the many ways he helped preserve the stories of those who came before. His life was woven deeply into the history of the place he loved, and his memory will remain a part of it.

Erik was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elizabeth Swanson; parents, Glen and Eveitte Swanson. He is survived by his daughter, Johannah Swanson Kirwan; son, Nils Swanson; son-in-law, Matthew Swanson Kirwan; grandchildren, James and Molly.

He will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and always loved. Funeral services will take place at 2:00 p.m. on August 12 at the Stone Church, 13 South Main Street, Alma, CO 80420, followed by a reception at the Alma Town Hall, located at 59 Buckskin Street.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to: The Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative www.mrhi.org or The Monastery of Our Lady and St Laurence https://www.ladyminster.com/