Continue reading »]]> Funeral Service for Oscar will be held at 11 AM, on Saturday May 19, 2012 at the North Crow River Lutheran Church North of Cokato.

Visitation: 5-7:30 PM on Friday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato

Interment will be at the Cokato Finnish Cemetery

Oscar Erven Jatko, age 90 of Cokato passed away on May 15, 2012.  He was
born to proud parents Arthur and Hilda Jatko at their home in Cokato
township.  Oscar’s mother passed away in
1929, when Oscar was 7 years old, which split the family up, at that time Oscar
was raised by foster parents Ernest and Sophie Kallunki until he entered into
the army in 1942.  He served in the
Pacific Theater until the end of the war.
Oscar later married Helen Gunderson on May 8, 1948.  He worked as a milkman, construction worker
for Truck Crane inc. of Minneapolis, and Payco Seed Co. of Dassel.  Oscar enjoyed working around the yard, gardening,
sawing and splitting wood, ice fishing in his spear house and  having good conversations with just about
anyone he met.  He was a special husband,
father and grandfather who left everlasting memories for each of them.  Survived by children Suzanne (Delaino)
Schafer of Darwin and Michael (Connie) Jatko of Buffalo, 6 grandchildren John (Shannon) McClure, Bryan
McClure, Scott (Tina) McClure, Sarah (Jeff) Layton, David (Kim) Jatko
and Sonja (Chris) VanKeulen along with 16 great-grandchildren.  Proceeded in death by parents Arthur and
Hilda Jatko, wife Helen, brothers Adler, Henry and William and sisters Ida and
Julia,

Continue reading »]]> Edwin E. Erickson, age 89, of Cokato, MN passed away on Wednesday,April 18, 2012 at Brookridge Place in Cokato. Edwin was born January 8, 1923 in French Lake to John and Emma Erickson.  Tragically, Edwin’s mother died a few days after his birth leaving John with 10 children to now parent alone.  Given the dire circumstances for the Erickson family, Edwin was lovingly placed in the home of an uncle and aunt, John and Hazel Larson of French Lake.   John and Hazel raised Edwin as an only child in their home and loved him without any reservation.    During Edwin’s childhood, he also spent many days interacting with his 9 older siblings and his father.  Edwin attended the Lee School in French Lake completing grade 8.  Edwin married Della Kotila on March 7, 1942.  To this union, 6 children were born, Carolynn, Gary, Tim, Mary, Therese and Mark.  During their married life, Edwin and Della enjoyed living in the French Lake and Cokato communities.

Edwin enjoyed life!  He especially enjoyed working with his hands.  Edwin’s first career was farming.  In the 1950’s Edwin also learned the trade of carpentry and went on to be a well known contractor/homebuilder, an owner of a lumber business and finally a building inspector in the community.  Edwin maintained active work until age 80.  During retirement, Edwin enjoyed helping on the farm, cutting wood, reading, gardening and visiting with old friends and family.

Edwin was passionate about his Christian faith.  He was an area lay preacher and Bible teacherfor several decades.  Edwin was active as both a member and lay pastor at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in French Lake for many years.  In this congregation, he experienced both the joy of serving and the joy of receiving Christian love and encouragement from his faith community.  Edwin felt blessed whenever he could encourage others to grow in their Christian faith or come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Edwin was preceded in death by his parents, John & Emma Erickson; uncle & aunt, John & Hazel Larson; wife, Della Kotila Erickson; infant son, Gary; infant great grandson, Garrett Menke; brothers: Clarence, Lawrence, Melvin, Bill, Vernon and Daniel Erickson; sisters: Dora Engstrom, Ellen Ortquist and Ruth Ostlund.

Edwin is survived by children: Carolynn Thompson of Cokato, Tim Erickson of Sauk Centre, Mary Rinden (Dan) of Pine City, Therese Grumley (Jeff) of Rockford, IL, Mark Erickson (Mary) of Cokato; 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church in Cokato, MN with Jerry Seehusen officiating.  Music was provided by Therese Grumley and Lynda Korhonen.  Casketbearers were: Ben Moore, Tom Moore, Tim Rinden, Alex Erickson, Lars Erickson, Robert Kipf and Calvin Kipf.  Burial was at the Grace Lutheran Cemetery in French Lake.

Continue reading »]]> Funeral Service: 2 PM Monday April 30, 2012 at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake

Visitation: 4-8 PM Sunday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, and 1hr prior to service at church on Monday

Prayer service: 7 PM Sunday

Interment Howard Lake Cemetery

Continue reading »]]> Funeral Service for Norma Olson will be at 11 AM Thursday, 4/19/2012 at Stockholm Lutheran Church

Visitiation: 4-8PM on Wednesday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr prior to service at church on Thursday

Interment will be in the Church Cemetery and family has asked for memorials in lieu of flowers.

Norma Esther
Olson, was born on February 2, 1922 at Williams, Minnesota to George and Grace (Nielson)
Jones.  At a very young age Norma was
adopted by Olaf and Minnie Lind.  She
grew up in Minneapolis, and was baptized and confirmed in the
Lutheran faith there.

Norma spent
summers with relatives; Oscar and Anna Osterberg, in Stockholm Township.
There she met Lloyd Olson, they were married January 7, 1939 on the Osterberg farm.  The couple made their home in Stockholm Township, and engaged in farming.

Norma enjoyed
fishing, gardening and flowers, needlework, and Baking.  Her and Lloyd did quite a bit of
traveling.  She was very active in the Stockholm Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School and Bible School.
She participated in the birthday club and the sewing club, and helped
with both 4-H and Girl Scouts.

Norma passed
away on April 16, 2012, at the Cokato Manor.
She had reached the age of 90 years, 2 months and 14 days.

Survivors
include, her children; Pat (Russ) Christianson of Apple Valley, Richard (Eleanor)
Olson of  Cokato, Sharon (Harvey) Nelson
of St. Michael, Jeannie (Lester) Eastling of Cokato.  13 grandchildren, 33 great grand children and
2 great great grand children.

She was preceded
in death by her parents, husband Lloyd, and infant son John, grand daughter
Brenda Knockel, 12 Brothers and Sisters.

Continue reading »]]> Wuollet, Janet Margaret, age 71 of Cokato, passed away April 13, 2012 at Cokato Manor. She was born November 19, 1940 at home in Cokato to Harry and Estella (Lofback) Wuollet. She was baptized and confirmed at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church and attended Ojanpera School. Later in life she moved to Buffalo, MN, where she worked at Functional Industries. She then resided at the Cokato Manor beginning in 1995.

Janet is preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Stanley, Melvin, and Donald, along with her sister: Elaine Wuollet.

She is survived by her sisters: Marian Johnson, Marcella Hallberg, Mildred (Jerry) Mattila, and Myrt Karanen. Brothers: Harry and Dick (Mary Ann), sisters-in-law: Eva Wuollet, and Dorothy Wuollet, along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Funeral service: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 11:00 am at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel.

Visitation: 1 1/2 hours prior to the service at Church.

Continue reading »]]> Passed away April 7, 2012 at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center.

Memorial Service will be held at 4PM, Saturday April 14, 2012 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake.

Rita Clarabelle Margaret Sullivan was born at Bell
Plain, Minnesota on May 28, 1929 to Arthur and Hazel (Anderson)
Fideldy.  She grew up in Bell Plain.

On October 4, 1958
Rita married Samuel Eldon Sullivan.  They
were married in Minneapolis.  At the time Samuel was in the U.S. Airforce,
the couple made their home in Omaha.  They moved to Montrose after Airforce duty,
then on to the farm in Annandale
where they stayed for some time.  Rita
has also lived in Minneapolis.  She entered the Annandale
Care Center
in 2005, and a year and a half ago the Good Samaritan Center of Howard Lake,
where she passed away on April 7, 2012.  She had reached the age of 82 years, 10
months and 9 days.

She enjoyed John Wayne, Country Music and doing puzzles.

Survivors include her children: James (Colleen) of Mound,
Wanda (Ron) Stewart of Kimball, and Tom (Janelle) of Howard
Lake.  Grandchildren: Daniel Stewart, Anthony,
Tanya, Cody, and Nathan Sullivan.  Great
grandchildren; Angelique, Andrew, and Madelyn.
Sisters Cheryl Johnson, Patrica Jurovich, Jeanette Hemme, and brother:
Robert.

Rita was preceded in death by: her parents Arthur and Hazel,
sisters Lois Theis, and Betty Lazerte, and grandson Joseph Stewart.

Continue reading »]]>

Holm, Beverly, age 69 of Sauk Rapids, formerly of Howard Lake, MN passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on March 31, 2012. Born in Onamia, MN to Henry and Ethel Girtz, she attended school at Greenway school in Colraine, MN and graduated in 1960. She worked various places as a bookkeeper and was later married to Brentford Currey. Their marriage was blessed with 2 children: Brian (Yvonne) Currey of Winsted, MN. and Betty (Jeff) Weber of Rice, MN. Beverly later married Stanley Holm. She enjoyed fishing, counted cross-stitching, and puzzles. She collected Precious Moments figurines and also liked playing Bingo and Pokeno, while visiting with people.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, and 2 nephews: Ron Schmidt and Mike King.

She is survived by her children: Brian (Yvonne) Currey, Betty (Jeff) Weber, Michelle (Eric) Higgins, Caroline Holm, and Tracie Holm. Grandchildren: Katie, Becca, Derek, and Darren Lent, Shane, and Asher Khan. Along with her great-grandson Hunter Lent. Siblings: Harlan, Duane, Rosemary, Katherine, and Patricia.

Memorial service: Wed. 4/4, 11 am at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato,  MN. Visitation: Tue. 4/3, 4-8 pm at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato  (320)286-2534

Continue reading »]]> Viola Mildred Collins of Howard Lake passed away at the Good Samaritan Center on March 24, 2012.

Memorial Service will be at 2:00 PM, on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at St. James Lutheran Church

Visitation will begin at church on Tuesday at 1:00 PM

Continue reading »]]>

Helen Pearl Jatko, age 84 of Cokato passed away on March 15, 2012. She was born to proud parents Ernest and Josie Gunderson at their home in Annandale. Growing up in Annandale, Helen later married Oscar Jatko on May 8, 1948. She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital of Minneapolis as a dietary aide for Richwell Furniture as an upholsterer and helped Vivian Leukema with catering. Helen had enjoyed gardening outside, canning her fruits and vegetables and cooking (especially her delicious rice pudding and doughnuts). She had an interest in helping people and caring for the elderly.. She was active as a member of North Crow River Lutheran Church, WELCA, legion auxiliary, and as a volunteer. Helen had enjoyed  her time spent with people, especially her family. She was a special wife, mother and grandmother who left everlasting memories for each of them. Survived by her husband of 64 years, Oscar of Cokato, children: Susan (Delaino) Schafer of Darwin, and Michael (Connie) Jatko, of Buffalo. 6 grandchildren: John (Shannon) McClure, Bryan McClure, Scott (Tina) McClure, Sarah (Jeff) Layton, David (Kim) Jatko, and Sonja (Chris) VanKeulen, along with 16 great-grandchildren. Proceeded in death by her parents Ernest and Josie Gunderson, brother: Arnold Gunderson, and sister: Ruth Marshall.

Honorariums preferred to Alzheimer’s Association.

Visitation: Sunday, March 18, 2012 5-7 pm at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home.

Funeral services: Monday, March 19, 2012, 11:00 am at the North Crow River Lutheran Church with internment following at the Cokato Finnish Cemetery.