Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Velma Jean Nus passed away on February 10, 2018. She was born January 4, 1922, in Sheldahl, Iowa, the daughter of Leroy and Ursul (Higginbotham) Ringgenberg. She graduated from Buckeye Union High School and attended Arizona State Teachers College for two years before moving back to Iowa in 1942.

Velma was married to Fred Nus on August 9, 1942 in McCallsburg, Iowa, and they celebrated 70 years of marriage on August 9, 2012. Fred and Velma made their home in three states throughout their marriage, Iowa, Colorado and Minnesota and were blessed with three children, James, Robert and Marcia.

Velma was a very active member of the United Methodist Church in Howard Lake, Minnesota, and sang in the choir and served as choir director there for many years. She was currently a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake.

Velma was gifted with many talents and abilities and enjoyed teaching piano throughout her married life. She enjoyed taking art lessons, and canvas oil painting was a favorite hobby for many years. She enjoyed reading, sewing, gardening, camping, and especially loved cooking and baking for her family. Her friends meant a great deal to her, and she often mentioned having coffee with the ‘coffee group’ downtown and playing various card games, especially Bridge, with dear friends. She enjoyed spending time with family playing board or card games, including Scrabble and Tripoley.

Velma is survived by sons Jim (Lori), and Bob (Mary); daughter Marcia (Andy); 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; nephew, John (Anne); niece, Dreanna.

Velma was preceded in death by her husband Fred in 2012; her parents; a brother-in-law, Loren; a sister-in-law, Phyllis; and a nephew, Edward.

Memorial Service: 1 PM Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake
Visitation 1hr prior to service on Saturday
Interment: Howard Lake Cemetery.

Bob Remington passed away on January 22, 2018. He was born June of 1920 in Lincoln, NE to Hugh and Inez (Kuhlman) Remington. He served as a radio man in the air corps during WW2. He graduated from Westmont College in 1949 with a major in Greek. Bob and his wife, Gerry were missionaries. They left for India in 1951, and they retired in 1986. He was a ‘Bob of all trades’! He taught school, did some legal stuff, made radio programs, kept the equipment running to the best of his ability, taught theology, ran a medical clinic, preached, held Bible studies, had several terms on the mission board, and performed other miscellaneous jobs.

Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife Gerry, his parents, older sister, Lois (Lysle), and nephew, Scott Smith.

Survived by his daughter, Carol Sue, foster children Pari (Shashi), Radha (Richard), and Usha, grandchildren, Heatherbelle, Austin, & Jessa (Alex) George. Sister Shirley (Chet), nieces, nephews and friends.

A celebration of Bob’s life was held on Sunday, February 4, 2018 from 2-4:30 at the Veterans Memorial Community Center (8055 Barbara Ave. IGH 55077)

Memorials preferred to the Evangelical Alliance Mission, P.O. Box 1986, Grapevine TX 76099-1986

Paul Raisanen passed away at his home in Cokato on Sunday, January 28, 2018, surrounded by family members.

Funeral Service: 11 AM Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at Cokato Laestadian Church at 16144 20th Street SW, Cokato
Visitation: 5-8PM Tuesday, January 30, at the church and 1hr. prior to services on Wednesday.
Interment: Cokato Finnish Cemetery.
K. Paul Raisanen was born July 15, 1925 in Cokato Township, the son of Nels and Mary (Juusola) Raisanen. Paul grew up on their family farm in West Albion.
Paul graduated from Annandale High School in 1943. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950 and served as a radio repair man during the Korean War.
Paul was united in marriage to Millie Halonen on September 15, 1953. They farmed in West Albion until they moved to Pioneer Lane Farm North of Cokato in 1957. There they dairy farmed until their retirement in 1990, after which they moved into town.
Paul passed away at his home in Cokato on Sunday, January 28, 2018. He had reached the age of 92 years, 6 months and 15 days.
Survivors include his children: Randall (Sheryle) of Scottsdale, AZ, Joan Kotila of Cokato, Mary (George) Koivukangas of Cokato, Gordon (Ruth) of Cokato, Kenneth (Pearl) of Greenfield, Bruce (Patricia) of Cokato, Carolyn Mattila of Cokato, Heidi (Lawrence) Torola of Cokato, Warren (Brita) of Peoria, AZ. Susan of Scottsdale, AZ.
Dwight of Annandale, Laura (Evan) Bekkala of Cokato, Gretchen (Mark) Plough of Snohomish, WA. Kirsti (Nicholas) Lang of Lake Stevens, WA. and Philip of New Hope. Many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. He is further survived by sisters and brothers-in-law; Dorothy Raisanen, George Kivisto, Gladys Kariniemi, Sylvia (Walter) Muhonen, Fred (Thelma) Halonen, Lorraine Hillukka, Virginia (Ernest) Lehtola, Connie Halonen, Raymond (Betty) Halonen, LillianYlitalo, Donald (Florence) Halonen, Martha Halonen, and Gerald Anderson.
Paul is preceded in death by his wife, Mildred (in 2013), parents, sons-in law: Mervin Mattila and Mark Kotila, 2 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, sisters, Martha (Robert) Cress and MaryAnn Kivisto, brother, Niilo, brothers and sisters-in-law: Carl (Eunice) Halonen, Judith Mattila, Paul Kariniemi, Paul Halonen, Edward Halonen, Paul Ylitalo, Douglas Halonen, and Sharen Anderson.

Grangroth (Arvola), Verna Esther
age 84, of Cokato, passed away on January 4, 2018 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN. She was born December 26, 1933 at home in Sebeka, MN to Hjalmer and Anna (Niemela) Arvola. Verna was baptized and confirmed in the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Sebeka. She graduated from Sebeka High School in 1952. On June 6, 1953 she was united in marriage to Harvey Grangroth at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Sebeka. This union was blessed with 13 children. They made their home farming in Waverly, MN until 1961, when they moved to Cokato. They continued to farm until they moved to town in 2003.
She loved spending time with her family, and baking apple pies, canning and selling their rag rugs, and baked and canned goods at the farmers market. Faith being very important to her, she was a current active member of the Cokato First Apostolic Lutheran Church.
Verna is survived by her husband, Harvey, children, Rebecca Grangroth, Deborah (Robert) Lasanen, Paul (Peggy) Grangroth, Bonita (Charles) Nikula, Diana Grangroth, Julia Grangroth, Timothy (Linda) Grangroth, Theodore Grangroth, Ann (David) Jones, Maria (Daryl) Martin, Wayne (Karen) Grangroth, Steven (Jodi) Grangroth, and Suzanne Bourque, 63 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren, siblings, Leslie (Louise) Arvola, Norma Hillukka, Joyce Kotila, Florence (Don) Halonen, Kenneth (Arlene) Arvola, and David (Mary) Arvola, and Richard North.
Preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Lila Johnson, and Ruth Leukuma, infant brother, Rudy, and grandson, Trent Grangroth, and great-grandson, Danny Lasanen.
A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, January 8, 2018 with visitation on Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 5-8 PM and continuing 1 hour prior to the service on Monday, all at the Cokato First Apostolic Lutheran Church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

Clifford Kenton Boeson Jr.
age 69, of Cokato, passed away on December 24, 2017 at the Dassel Lakeside Care Center. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 11:00 AM with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at Elim Mission Church in Cokato.