Good-bye, old friend. It's been one hell of a ride! You will be sorely missed. -Clarke

Your music and memories live on inside each of us that you touched. Farewell saddle pal. -ep

Dear Fred,
Thank you for the memories and years of entertainment. We will always remember Fred "The Flash" Swanson. You're a part of the Angel Band now. Enjoy pickin some tunes with Charles. "There is no music in hell, for all good music belongs to Heaven." (Brigham Young). Sleep in Heavenly Peace. -Sheila W.

I'll never forget the best advice you gave me: "Find a man you're attracted to, find a man who makes you happy, find a man who challenges you.. And never let them meet." Goodbye Freddo. -Ryan Nicole Wellems

Fred will aways be part of my life and in my heart. He was a very kind, caring person. He always asked how is my family doing everytime I worked with him..I really enjoyed working with him. It will always be very hard to go into the fitting room, I mean Fred's WORLD!! We will miss him LOTS!!! -Tricia Cowley

Fredo touched my life in so many ways, him and i would just sit in the fitting room at old navy and he would always tell me these amazing stories. Fred wanted nothing more from me then to suceed in life, i remember he would bring me in presents everynow and then, one day he brought me a dreamcatcher and told me i could do any thing. Everytime i went back to Old Navy he was always the first person i would look for, he always knew how to brighten mine and tons of other peoples day. Fred, you will truley be miss thank you putting such an impact on my life. -shelby swanson

We will miss you so much, Fred. I didn't know you for as many years as I should have liked, but in that short year and a half, you touched my life and the lives of everyone who knew you. You taught me to take everything in stride and never sweat the small stuff, and I will do my best to remember that. -Rachel Bennet

Fred,
We miss you all very much. We will never forget you.
Your friends, Herbert, Dorle, Stefan & Sylvia from Berchtesgaden - Germany

Dear Fred,
I still remember the day when you and the boys came to the customs office at Munich Airport in Germany in 1993. You missed some equipment cases for your show in General Walker Hotel in Berchtesgaden. At that hotel I was invited from you all to see your show and have fun with you. That day our friendship started though we couldn't see us very much. The second time we met, was when you picked me up at Denver airport for my visit at Ft. Collins 1993. Unfortunately this visit was the last time I saw you. Well, to be honest, I had not the money and time to come over for a visit. However, you can be forsure that I had you - and will always - have you in mind.
I cannot say very much about you in normal life, but I remember you as a friendly and generous man who picked up a (almost) stranger at an airport, brought him to a friend's house for dinner and took care not to get lost on his way to a hotel.
Now I feel so sorry that we do not have the chance to meet us again over there in Colorado.
But there is the small chance that I can meet you one day in heaven, and then I promise, we will play music together.
Fred, You will never be forgotten!
Your dear pal from overseas, Harry Roth, Neunkirchen am Brand, Bavaria / Germany

I have a good many memories of Fred, but as they say, I can't recall all of them. But hearing him sing "Stone Walls and Steel Bars" for the first time was something I'll never forget. And then to hear him turn around and do "Oh Carol"--great stuff. And that "telum-caster" (as he would say) was the real deal. His musical mind was wide open to all kinds of things; blues, rock and roll-you name it. Rest in peace Fred. -Rich Moore, Denver.

Fred thank you for always being there. Whether I was upset about work and coworkers or just wanting to share stories about our dogs, I always left the fittingroom in higher spirits. I have and will always miss sitting in the office listening to you clock in and waiting for you to walk in so we could start one of our many time consuming conversations. Fred you will always be one of the reasons I loved going to work each day. Rest in peace, and I will always remember whose world it is! -Christine Peters

You were an amazing person. I could be having the worst day but when I stepped into the doors at Old Navy and was immediately greeted by your "Hello, Miss Leanne how are you today?", my day would become instantly better. Words cannot describe the joy I would get from talking to you whether it was about your amazing life stories, your walks with Bill, or even just what we each had for lunch, you were a true friend and one of the most amazing people I will ever met. I will always remember your kind heart and never ending generosity, from bringing me food in Tubberware containers when I had no money to go grocery shopping to always being there to help me in any way you can, you were constantly giving anything you could and never asked for anything in return. You are missed greatly and will never be forgotten. You will always have a place in my heart. -Leanne Insana

He was such a great singer and an authentically handsome Western character! -Jo Ann Hedleston

I'm saddened to hear the news that we've lost another friend and fine musical voice...Fred and his fellow members of the Hollywood Rodeo Band truly brightened the airwaves on KBRQ Radio in Denver during the 1980s. I was proud to know him briefly and to call him a friend. My sympathy to his family, friends, and fans. -Jim Stricklan

I met Fred and the band back in the mid seveties in Mystic, South Dakota. Fred was great, the band was great, they gave me a better sense of country western music.....cheers -Paul Mcquilkin

My condolences to the family & friends of Fred, a great guy. Clark & E.P., I know what it's like to lose a musical comrade with whom you spent decades with. Hang in there & keep it going. Fred, I'll miss singing Vestido de Blanco with you. See you down the road my friend. -Glenn Zankey

I am very sad to hear about Freds passing. I met him when he was with Smokehouse thru my brother in law Gary Hoyt. He and several bands he was in played here in Atwood,Ks many times over the years. I considered him a good friend. I will miss you Fred::::: Gary Worthy

. . ."Another guitar player called home"
- I remember him as a guitar player, I know he played other instruments.
I loved your smile, Fred.
I'll always remember the last time I saw you. You were so polite and nice to me after you'd seen Gary at the hospital. I am grateful that I got to know you.
My condolences go to the family he made for himself. . .his friends.
Respectfully, Esther (Hoyt) Ammon

I remember when Fred first moved to Denver in 1972. He was staying at my house until he found a job and could save enough money to get his own place. He was working nights at a grocery store, and one morning he came in from work and caught me jaybird nekkid as I was rushing around getting ready for work. I shrieked and ran for cover. I laughed 'til I had tears in my eyes for many days, every time I thought of it (and laugh, still, at the memory). That evening, we were together with Doug and maybe my brother Gary, too. I said ha ha I guess Fred told you what happened this morning, and they looked back and forth at us with blank, then questioning expressions. Fred said, "Of course I didn't tell 'em. A gentleman keeps those things to himself." That was so Fred--a true and kind gentle man. -Janet

Fred, it has been almost 20 years since I met you and the other Band members in Diego Garcia and over the years you have kept in touch. You will be missed but not forgotten. -Ralph Doudna, Flagstaff, Arizona

To the Swansons and all of Fred's family, our sympathy goes out to you.
Fred was our friend, as he was to many people. We were fortunate to have had him share his kindness, his gentle manner, and his many talents with us all. Happy Trails Friend -Chuck & Marilyn Westerdahl

Thanks for all the great memories...I used to love going to sleep listening to the band practice in our basement. Hanging out listening to records, BBQ's, and going to see the Denver Zephers play baseball. You had a big influence on me growing up. You were always a great friend. You will be missed greatly but never forgotten. With Love -Willie Hoyt