Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Karen Marie Duraine age 79 passed away peacefully in her home on Mother’s day May 13th, 2018 with family by her side. She was the wife of Robert Duraine and they shared 40 years of marriage together. They own a beautiful home in McGregor, MN.
Karen Marie Cochran was born in Stockholm Township in Howard Lake, MN. She was the daughter of Roy and Amelia Cochran and had 8 brothers and sisters.
She was a long time resident of Howard Lake and worked for a long time at the Howard Lake Herald newspaper. She was a member of the Wright County Saddle Club. She had a love of horses and raised dogs for years. She and her husband Robert have been enjoying retirement for many years. They both enjoyed traveling, playing cards, cribbage, and watching baseball and football. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and every Sunday did one over the phone with her daughter- Jessica.
She was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran church in McGregor for many years, was baptized, and grew up in the St James Lutheran church in Howard Lake. She was an active Visiting Angel through her church for many years and helped many people in their homes to stay in their homes. She will be remembered most for her wonderful smile and laughter and her generous loving spirit for everyone she met. In addition, her lifetime of teachings and wisdom she so freely shared.

She is survived by her husband Robert Duraine and 3 Daughters Connie Norman and Fiancée- Kenneth Larson, Jessica Salonek and husband- Patrick Salonek and Susan Kalinowski and husband Bill Kalinowski and one brother- Ronnie Cochran and his wife Arlene. Robs sister- Juanita Peuse and Rob’s brothers- Lloyd Duraine, Donald, his wife- Chyerl Duraine, also Roberts Children- Sons- Robert Jr and his wife- Michelle, Clinton, and one daughter Deborah Duraine. She has 10 Grandchildren- Josh and Cori Koch Adam and Beth Koch, Jennifer and Chad Remer, Stephanie and Nick Ward, Angela and Jess Tormanen, Patrick and Laura Salonek, Andy and Leah Salonek, Ryan Kalinowski, Jeff and Emily Kalinowski, Rachel and Justin Fread and 15 great-grandchildren. Karen is pre-deceased by her son- Kim Schrupp and her parents – Roy and Amelia Cochran and 7 brothers and sisters.
The funeral Service will be held on Friday May 18th at 2pm at St James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN. There will be a visitation for an hour prior to her service.
Memorial donations/in lieu of flowers may be made to the Visiting Angels or a charity of your choice.

Marian Marcella Frank
age 89, of Howard Lake and formerly Silver Lake, passed away on May 8, 2018 at the St. Mary’s Care Center in Winsted. She was born on September 15, 1928 in Hutchinson Township to Ben and Emily (Jerabek) Klima. Marian was baptized on December 12, 1928 and confirmed on June 11, 1944 at the First Congregational Church in Silver Lake, MN. She graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1946. She was a teacher in a one room school house. On July 21, 1951 she was united in marriage to Melvin Frank at the First Congregation Church in Silver Lake. This union of 56 years was blessed with 2 children, Marlene and Milan. They made their home on a farm near Howard Lake and later moved into town.
Marian loved her lord god, church, and family. She enjoyed teaching, gardening, and making her home.
Preceded in death by her husband, parents, daughter, Marlene, and brother, David.
Survived by her son, Milan, sister, Dorothy Gunderson, and brother, Benjamin Klima.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 1:00 PM with visitation from 4-7 PM on Friday, May 11 and continuing 1 hour prior to the service, all at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake, MN 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com

James Louis Mattson,
age 86, of Dassel passed away on May 6, 2018. He was born December 5, 1931 in Dassel, MN to Lowell and Grace (Simmons) Mattson. Jim grew up in Dassel and graduated from Dassel High School in 1949. He continued his education at the Minneapolis School of Business, and later joined the Air Force. On June 6, 1953, he was united in marriage to Clarice Johnson at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Dassel. Together, they built a home in Darwin and later moved to “Peaceful Acres” north of Dassel in 1965. Jim worked for 35 years at 3M as a production supervisor. He was an avid woodworker and enjoyed hunting on his land.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Patricia Nelson.
Jim is survived by his wife, Clarice, children, Dayna (Jim) Reimers, Brian (Veronica) Mattson, and Trish (Tim) Huhn, 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, a sister, Marlene Swanson, along with several nieces, nephews, and friends.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Dassel (251 Lake St, Dassel, MN 55325) with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Children’s Home Society (166 4th St E, St Paul, MN 55101 (651)222-0311). Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Melvin Russell Bjur
age 93, of Howard Lake and Cokato, passed away on April 30, 2018 at the Cokato Manor.
Mel was born in 1924 on the farm south of Howard Lake, the only child of Julius and Hulda Bjur. It was there that he was raised, spending time helping out the neighbors. Mel graduated from Cokato High School in 1943. He worked for Green Giant in Cokato and Glencoe, and later became a sweet corn field sampler, after selling the dairy cows. For 10 years beginning in 1965, he was an assessor in the Stockholm, MN area and hauled livestock to South St. Paul stockyards, bringing back freight from the Twin Cities. Mel also sold seed corn for Dassel Seed Company and helped Stockholm township with snowplowing. Until 2000, Mel walked the fields with the detasselers as a field man.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Hulda Bjur.
A celebration of Mel’s life will take place at 11:00 AM on Monday, May 7th, 2018 at the Stockholm Lutheran Church south of Cokato, with visitation on Sunday, May 6 from 4-8 with 7 PM prayer at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, and continuing 1 hour prior to the service at church on Monday. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Roger Fredrick Roepke, age 71 of Howard Lake, passed away April 25, 2018 at Bethesda Hospital in Saint Paul. Roger was born October 16, 1946 in Watertown, MN to Ardell and Elaine Roepke. Roger has always been a family man. As a teenager he left school to help his parents with their farm. Roger was united in Marriage to Ethel Oakley on June 17, 1967. Their marriage was blessed with a boy, Todd; and four girls, Melissa, Jane, Ann, and Amy. Roger worked as a foreman at Mid-America for 27 years. Roger loved his dogs, the Vikings, chocolate, and Johny Cash; however, he loved his family most. When his kids were young he would take them on camping trips every summer. He enjoyed watching all his kids and grandkids play sports and compete. He was always available to his family to help in anyway needed. He is survived by his wife of 50 years Ethel; mother, Elaine Roepke; brothers, Sheldon Roepke, Al (Mavis) Roepke; sister, Suzan Ziedler, Diane (Rick) Reisdorfer; daughters, Melissa Bondhus, Jane (John) Brown, Ann (Patrick) Roepke, and Amy Roepke; grandchildren, Zachary Sanford, Ty Roepke, Jake Summerfield, Peyton Roepke, Lexi Brown, Zayne Brown, Anna Roepke, and Phoebe Willette. Roger was preceded in death by his father Ardell Roepke; brother, Kenneth Roepke; son, Todd Roepke.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 4, 2018 at the New Life Assembly of God Church in Cokato, with visitation on Thursday, May 3, 2018 from 5-7 PM and continuing 1 hour prior to services at church on Friday. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN (320)543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com