Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Shawn Coleman Anderson of Howard Lake, Minnesota passed away on October 17, 2025. He was born on November 21, 1992 in Renton, Washington to parents Gregory Anderson and Denise Whidden. Shawn graduated from the Dassel-Cokato High School in 2011 and served in the United States Army from 2013-2014. He enjoyed cooking, building model planes, and spending time in nature. Shawn was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his uncle, Jeff Anderson (Coleen); step mom, Carol Anderson; adoptive mom, Stephanie Savoy; girlfriend, Hannah Leino; and cat, Solstice. Memorials preferred to the Wounded Warrior Project. A memorial gathering will be held at the Litchfield Legion, November 8th from 11-2. Cheers

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Roger LeRoy Bluhm of Hutchinson passed away peacefully on October 10, 2025, at the age of 92, surrounded by family.
Roger was a proud Army veteran who served during the Korean War and was a lifelong resident and active member of the Hutchinson community. He took a special interest in Veterans Affairs and served many years as the McLeod County Veterans Service Officer before retiring. He was also a longtime volunteer firefighter and a dedicated member of both the American Legion and the VFW.
Roger shared 42 loving years with his wife Margie Bluhm, who was his closest companion and constant support.
He is survived by his wife Margie, children, grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren who will lovingly remember him.
A private memorial will be held at a later date.

Joyce Kathleen (Swendra) Thorson of Mesa, Arizona, formerly of Howard Lake, Minnesota was called to her Eternal rest on October 15, 2025.
She was born on December 2, 1939 in Cokato, Minnesota to Ambrose and Catherine (Piehl) Swendra. She was baptized on June 6, 1940 at St. Adalbert Catholic Church in Silver Lake, Minnesota and confirmed on June 6, 1954 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato.
Joyce was united in Holy Matrimony on June 16, 1956 to Dale Thorson and was blessed with three children.
After Dale’s passing in 1988, Joyce married Dennis Massey on November 27, 1999.
Joyce was an active member of the Howard Lake Lions Club and St John’s Lutheran Church. She enjoyed hunting, gardening, traveling and caring for her lawn. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family. In her career Joyce worked as a machinist for both Eaton and Dana Corporations.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and husbands. She is survived by her children, Terry (LaNette) Thorson, Bruce (Gerry) Thorson, and Cindy (Mike) Kaine, step children, Dawn Sorenson, and Bret (Jill) Massey, 14 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Howard Lake Lions Club or St. John’s Lutheran Church of Howard Lake.
Services are Saturday, November 1, 2025 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN at 11:00 a.m. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service.

Donald L. Danford, 84, of Howard Lake, MN, went to his home in heaven, surrounded by family on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.
A funeral service will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Montrose. Visitation will take place at 10. There will be a navy salute and a lunch.
Donald Lee Danford was born to Robert and Violet Danford July 22, 1941, in Hamilton, OH. He entered the navy in 1961, working as a baker, and was discharged in 1966. He attended the College of Southern Idaho, graduating with a degree in business management.
He was married to Elizabeth Danford (Smith) on Nov. 8, 1964. They had three daughters. With his degree, Don worked as a baker, climbing his way up to sales and management. He also taught Sunday school at his church. After retirement, Don took on many volunteer activities such as working with Love Inc., Meals on Wheels, reading with elementary children in Maple Lake, and working in the ministry of the United Methodist Church.
Don loved woodworking, fishing, boating, and was always quick with a joke and a helping hand. Most of all, he loved spending time with his wife, “Bets,” and getting together with family. He was filled with life, and his joy was contagious to the people around him.
Don will be cherished and missed by his loving family. He is preceded by his father, Robert; mother, Violet; two sisters and two brothers. He is survived by his wife, Betty; children, Nancy (Steve) Holtman of Howard Lake; Peggy (Lee) Juvland of Howard Lake; Karen (Eric) Juvland of Annandale; grandchildren, Jordan (Ruth), Aidan (Matthew), Jacob (Jessie), Maddie, Marcus, Meri, Katherine, Margaret, Lizzie; great-grandchildren, Jason, Jameson, Logan, Jules, Donny, Indie, Amara, Monty, Georgia, Casey; and other relatives and friends.

Dennis Joe Samuelson passed away at the Dassel Lakeside Nursing Home on September 30th, 2025 following multiple medical complications after a recent surgery and hospitalizations.
He was born on November 20th, 1957 to Raymond and Norma Samuelson in Wadena MN. He grew up on a farm in Sebeka, and then the family moved to West Concord MN for a short time and then settled in Cokato, MN.
He graduated from Dassel Cokato High School in 1976. He enjoyed many vacations / road trips with his Christian friends as a young adult. He worked detailing vehicles at Holt Motors for 25 years before retiring in 2007 due to ongoing health issues.
He was united in marriage to Linda Harju on June 29th, 2002. They resided in Cokato. Dennis worked hard at home doing everything he could to help out with whatever needed to be done. He worked hard to take care of the yard with lots of flowers and gardening. He enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels, fishing, cleaning, baking, and everything possible that he could do to take care of things. He also enjoyed relaxing at home, and spending time with his family and beloved pets. He was known for wanting to help out in any way he could with the friends and neighbors around him.
He was a lifelong member of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church, and his Christian faith was a source of strength and comfort throughout his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents Norma and Ray, and a brother Stephen.
He is survived by his wife Linda Samuelson of Cokato, children Derrek (Amanda) Harju and their children Ryker, Rhett and Rexton of Saint Peter, Jaden Samuelson of Cokato, brothers Michael of Edina, David (Suzie) of Williston ND, Jerry (Cecilia) of Cokato, and a sister Cindy (Melvin) Nowak of Deer River. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family, and many dear Christian friends and neighbors.
Funeral Service will be held on October 6th, 2025 at 11:00 am at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel, Minnesota with visitation at 10:00 am. Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota.