Dr. C.H. (Kay) Swanson, 90, of Clinton, passed away comfortably at his home on Sept. 29, 2017, surrounded by family.

Kay was born on Sept. 13, 1927 in Columbus, Mont. to Nelle Mae Megreu and Dr. C.H. Swanson, Sr. He grew up in Columbus where he graduated from high school and then joined the U.S. Navy.

After WWII he continued school at Montana State University followed by the University of Nebraska, and then at the University of Nebraska Medical School, where he graduated in 1954. In 1955, Dr. Swanson married Gloria Spilseth of Kensington, Minn. and returned to Columbus to make their home and to begin his practice in family medicine. He practiced at the Stillwater Community Hospital for 31 years until his retirement there and his move to Spokane, Wash., in 1987.

In the years he had lived in Montana, Dr. Swanson spent much of his leisure time kayaking rivers, not only in Montana and Idaho but increasingly in more distant locations such as Alaska, Colorado and Georgia. Downriver kayaking became his passion. However, after moving to Spokane, sea kayaking became his new interest.

In 1997 Kay moved to Clinton, Wash. in order to pursue almost daily kayaking adventures. This past summer included a trip in the south end of Puget Sound and another trip on Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming.

Kay is survived by his former wife, Gloria Swanson and three sons Rand Swanson of Bozeman, Mt., Mark Swanson of Toney, Ala. and Scott Swanson of Columbus and Billings, Mont., three grandsons and one granddaughter.