Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Melvin L Terning was born on June 7, 1945 to Earl & Effie (Fredricks) Terning in Cokato. He attended Stockholm School and then Cokato High School.
He entered the military after being drafted in 1965. He proudly served his country for 2 years. After serving a year in Vietnam he left the military with a rank of E5.
His love of dirt started at an early age when he hauled gravel in his red wagon on the driveway. His business Terning Excavating was started in 1971 and he has left his knowledge in many projects in the Cokato area. After turning the business over to his son Nate, he still hauled gravel for a number of years. Health issues forced him to retire at the age of 77.
One of his most enjoyable projects was volunteering his knowledge and talents in getting a site prepared for The New Living Word Church in Reeds Spring, MO.
Mel is survived by his wife JoAnne, son Nate (Nicole) Terning, daughter Tammy (Jason) Schwartz, five grandchildren Colin Terning, Jacob Schwartz, Caleb Schwartz, Adrianna Terning & Dylan Terning, one great granddaughter Alina Schwartz, Brother Jerry (Gladys) Terning, sister Barb Krogstad, sister-in-law Arlys Terning, and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents Earl & Effie Terning, and brother Dave Terning.
A service will take place at Stockholm Lutheran Church on Monday, April 6th at 2:00 PM with visitation beginning at 11:00 AM.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, Minnesota www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534.

Debra Ann (Myers) Ryan arrived on earth on March 24th, 1967 at 5:47 am; she returned to heaven on March 24th, 2026 at 5:51 pm.
Born in Marysville, CA to Leona and Robert C. Myers Sr. as the 3rd child of 4 (Robert Jr, Rhonda, Mike). She grew up all over California, from San Bernadino to Orange County to Yuba City.
In the mid 1970′s Deb’s family settled in Yuba City where she graduated from high school and where her father died July 4th 1980. She was active in her church youth group, and strong in her faith. Deb played the violin in high school and was a lifelong music lover.
Deb met her future husband John while both were watching the California cruise (think 1950′s car movies). After talking all night John was able to get a phone number to call for a date leading to a lifelong relationship. They would have fun skiing (both water & downhill), camping, and fishing as well as other unique and interesting experiences. John quit smoking because Deb bet that he could and she was right. John and Deb were married on July 11th, 1987. They were blessed with 2 beautiful daughters and 5 wonderful grandchildren.
Deb was born with a hole in her heart and overcame years of cardiological issues. A survivor of 5 open heart surgeries and other medical issues, she never considered herself handicapped. Her family often referred to her as a walking miracle. A couple examples, in 2004 a blood clot took her vision resulting in complete blindness. After Drs. said she would not regain her vision, God healed her to having limited vision. While legally blind most people were not aware of her condition. Then in 2008 she had another stroke taking her ability of speech. The first words she regained were “Thank you”. This shocked most of the nurses and staff, as usually the first words regained are swear words. Again, she recovered most of her speech; most unaware of her conditions such as aphasia and apraxia. All of the medical attention she received as a child inspired her to become a nurse so she could take care of others as she was cared for.
As a nurse she enjoyed home health taking care of kids & teenagers. One even asked her to accompany him & his date to prom. After moving to Dassel, MN she accepted a position in the Middle school Health Office where she worked for over 25 years. Deb was a recipient of an ESSA (Excellent Support Staff Award) due to her caring touch with students (many of whom would stop her in public and fondly thank her).
Deb went on multiple mission trips with her church family and enjoyed going on women’s retreats. She was very involved in supporting her family & community in activities such as 4-H, marching band, drumline, Fungus Amongus Community Theater, AWANA, & other church programs. Even being recognized with her family as volunteers of the year in 2010 at DC High School. She volunteered with WLSTA Vets on the Lake and was a Lifetime Member of the VFW Auxiliary. Outside of these involvements, Deb had recently started quilting. She loved a good cup of caribou coffee, ice cold tea, and loved time with friends and family, especially her grandkids.
Strong in her faith and considerate of everyone, she was loved by most people she met and left a lasting impression. With her latest health struggles all the medical staff stopped to thank her for letting them be part of her care team. Some even became new friends and would go out of their way to come visit with her. While recently diagnosed with metastasized renal cell carcinoma, GOD chose to use her heart maladies to bring her home.
Preceded in death by her sister Rhonda, father Robert Myers, stepfather Richard Lawson, mother Leona, brother Robert, brother Mike, and grandparents.
Survived by her husband John, daughters Sarah (Erik) Peterson and Kaitlyn Ryan, grandchildren Noelle, Madelyn, Emily, Evan and Alaina Peterson, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews. She was a beloved wife, mom, sister, friend, aunt and grandma. She will be missed by all her family and friends who are happy she is home and no longer struggling through pain. She will be lovingly remembered and cherished forever.
In lieu of plants and flowers, please donate to the American Heart Association or Cancer Society.
Visitation and Celebration of Life will be hosted at Highland Church in Cokato, MN. Visitation will be Friday 4/10, 4-7pm, followed by a prayer service. Celebration of Life Saturday, 4/11 at 11am.
For those unavailable to attend physically the services will be streamed via this link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/RwZCuF9RPKc?si=BgNOuL5IEQbps44b
Can also find on Highland’s live stream page.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, Minnesota 320 286 2534 swansonpeterson.com

Betty Joanne (Morris) Severson went to her rest on Tuesday March 10, 2026. She was born to Emil and Hannah Morris on March 18, 1932. She married Arden Severson April 19, 1950 and together they raised their 7 children, first in rural Cokato MN and then in LeSueur MN. In 1999 they built their retirement home on their farm in Wright County. During their retirement they traveled significantly, spent time with their 7 children and 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Betty had many hobbies, most of them wonderfully crafty. She spent countless hours at her looms weaving beautiful rag rugs, and when she wasn’t weaving, she was often sewing, an enthusiasm that bordered on a lifelong addiction. She was a strong, energetic, and a deeply creative force. Betty loved a good game of Scrabble, cherished her time in the sauna, baked wonderful bread, and was a true lefse expert. Proud of her Finnish heritage, she carried its traditions and spirit throughout her life. She sang in the church choir well into her 80s and rarely liked to sit still, she was always active, always involved, and always making something or helping someone. A frequent and devoted volunteer, she also found great joy and peace at the lake home she loved so much.
A true force of nature.
Funeral service for Betty will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 14th at Stockholm Lutheran Church in Cokato, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Friday at the church and one hour prior to service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home 320 286 2534 swansonpeterson.com

Betty Ann Melquist of Dassel MN was called home to Jesus on the 9th of March 2026; she was 92 years young. Born in Staples MN September 4th, 1933, to Edward & Frieda Yager. She loved to climb trees and play with her brothers outside; she was proud of being a little “tomboy” when she often reflected on her younger years. When moving to Howard Lake MN at the age of twelve she enjoyed living on the farm, picking raspberries, and above all else discovering her skills and love for gardening. Betty, during her senior year of school, found the love of her life Charles Melquist, they were united in marriage on a snowy day in May 1954, moving to Cokato to start a family of her own on the Melquist farm. Betty continued to work hard as a loving mother, a farmer’s wife, and of course creating the biggest garden she could! Charlie was diagnosed with MS, ending the career of farming in 1989 to a new chapter in a Cokato apartment while loving the factory job she worked for 10 years. After Charlie passed, she moved in with her daughter outside of Dassel MN. She spent the rest of her years very happy, hours upon hours in her garden talking to the Lord daily, crocheting/knitting blankets to give to her grandchildren and doilies to give away to loved ones. She continued working part time until the age of 80 and spent the next twelve years of retirement enjoying her Children, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren. She was loved and will be missed deeply.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Edward, Ralph and Donnie Yager, sister Dorothy Wysong, and sisters-in-law Marge Yager and Gale Yager.
Betty is survived by her sons Howard and Alan Melquist, daughter Debi (David) Gigley, brother Jimmy Yager, sister Shirly Kunze, grandchildren Kelly (Gary Veurink) Bemboom, April & Travis Bemboom, Adam & Joannah Melquist, Brady & Renee Melquist, Elysia (Stan Weibel) Hillmyer, Christy & Michael Holm, Kindralee & Aaron Munson, Anne & Nathan Miller, 14 Great Grandchildren and 3 Great Great Grandchildren.
A funeral service will take place at 11:00 am on Friday, March 20th at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato with visitation 1 hour prior and lunch to follow. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato 320 286 2534 swansonpeterson.com.
Livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/sUEgszepbL4?si=Uvpx9Oxa6MmE3kNV

Michael Earl Koeppe of Waverly passed away on February 22 in Howard Lake, Minnesota. He was born on January 1st, 1945 to Earl and Metta (Clausen) Koeppe in Detroit, Michigan. The family moved to Delano, Minnesota in October of 1950. They later moved to a farm in Loretto in May 1951 before finally settling in Waverly in May 1956, where they raised dairy cows. In June, 1958 Earl had a serious farm accident, leaving Mike to take over many farm duties at a very young age. Mike graduated from Howard Lake-Waverly High School in 1963. He continued to dairy farm with Earl, occasionally taking an afternoon off to see a Twins Game at the Old Met. Mike and Earl sold the dairy cows in 1981 and crop farmed after that. After Earl passed in 1998, Mike’s son Adam helped out. Mike, Earl and Adam spent many summer nights listening to Twins games on the radio under the trees. The greatest joy in Mike’s life was helping raise his grandchildren, Shane and Romana. He loved seeing them perform in the many plays they were in. He loved watching westerns, wrestling and Twins games. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake. He is survived by his son Adam, grandchildren Shane and Romana, and sister Karen. A funeral Service will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 7th at the First Presbyterian Church in Howard Lake with visitation one hour prior. Lunch will be served following the service. Interment will take place in the spring. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home 320 543 3401 swansonpeterson.com.