Fleta F. Swain, 86, of Seneca, KS, died Wednesday, September 28, 2005, at Life Care Center in Seneca.

She was born July 22, 1919, on a farm near Vermillion, the daughter of Clarence and Clara Dodd Morrison. She attended rural schools near Vermillion and Centralia. She did domestic work for families and especially helped with newborn babies.

On April 18, 1942, she married William Palmer at Seneca. They lived in Seneca and were the parents of seven children. Her husband William died March 3, 1951. On April 13, 1952 she married Frank Swain at St. John, KS. They also lived in Seneca and were the parents of three daughters. Frank died August 17, 1974. On September 23, 1980, she married Paul Swain in Seneca.

Fleta worked at the Gilford Hotel in Seneca doing laundry. She also worked at restaurants in Seneca, Centralia and Sabetha. She managed Evelyn’s Café and the Sunset Café west of Seneca from the fall of 1966 until September 1980. She left work at the Sunset Café to take care of her husband, Paul. Later she was again employed at several restaurants in the area.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the Earle W. Taylor Post of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Seneca Memorial Post of the VFW Auxiliary, and the Hospital Guild Card Club, all in Seneca. She loved to do needlework, travel, raise flowers, and play bingo. She was a care giver and helped care for many people.

Survivors are three sons, William Palmer, Jr. of Little Rock, AR., Clarence Palmer of Topeka, and Bernard Palmer of Seneca; seven daughters, Fleta Pellor of Salem, OR, Billie Adam of Manhattan, KS, Marjorie Gentry of Wichita, Della Cleland of Lafayette, CO, Linda Buessing and Clara Reinecke, both of Baileyville, and Connie Engelken of Seneca; a step-son, Charles Swain of Decatur, AL; a sister, Hazel Althof of Topeka; 35 grandchildren and 62 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Sylvia McGehee.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the Seneca City Cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Sunday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the Life Care Center Activity Fund, and sent in care of the family.