Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Viola Larson, one of God’s good and faithful servants, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 1, 2017, following complications from Pneumonia. Viola was 93 years old. On Thursday, February, 25, Viola played the piano for her final hymn sing at Heritage place in Cokato MN. Everyone so enjoyed her ministry of music and she always provided a full repertoire of favorite hymns. When she played the hymns everyone enjoyed singing along. She was a great fan of Fanny Crosby, the famous hymn writer and she featured Fanny’s songs in all of her mini concerts.
Viola was born to Joseph and Ruth Willett in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 11, 1924. She dedicated her life to her Lord’s work and at an early age set her goals to serve Him wherever he needed her. She graduated from St. Paul Bible Institute with a degree in Christian Ministry. She married Wallace Larson, whom she met at school. They married on May 30, 1945, in Sandstone, Minnesota and began a lifelong Christian ministry as pastor and wife to churches in Annandale, MN, Fairmont MN, Arthur, IA, Rapid City, SD, Rochester, MN, Clover, MN, and Albion, MN. Since her husband passed away in December, 1986, Viola has lived in the Annandale/Cokato area and is no doubt known by the entire community for dedicated church work, portrayal of “Mrs. Noah” and “Queen Esther” and her wonderful portrayal of the nice old lady who taught everyone about history at Pioneer Park in Annandale. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Ruth and Joseph Willett, her loving husband Rev. Wallace Larson, whom with she is now happily reunited. She is survived by her three children, Dr. David Larson, of Bennett, Co, Dean Larson, of Auburn, CA and Linnea Raasch of Dassel, MN. She has many grandchildren and great grandchildren spread out across the country who will miss her dearly. She was a wonderful example and inspiration to all her family.
Viola’s Celebration of Life will be held, Monday, March 6, 2017 at the Albion Evangelical Free Church, 11480 5th Street Northwest, Cokato, MN 55321. There will be a visitation at 1:00 pm with services to begin at 2:00 pm. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

Hoium, Helen Elizabeth 89 of Cokato, formerly Hopkins. Passed away at Cokato Manor on 2/23/2017. Survivors include her sons: Robert Snell of Webster WI, and Tom (Gwen) Snell of Cokato. Grand children; Rob, Jordan (Karen) , and Justine. Memorial Service: 2 PM, Wednesday, 3/1/2017 at Mizpah United Church of Christ, 415 5th Ave. N., Hopkins. Visitation begins at church at 1 PM.
Helen Elizabeth Hoium, was born on July 24, 1927, in Parkland, of Douglas County, Wisconsin, to Carl and Elsie (Needs) Petersen. She grew up at South Range, Wisconsin and graduated high school at Superior, Wisconsin. She went on to Teachers College and received her teaching degree at Superior.
Helen taught grade school for 40+ years. Most of them at Mckinley Elementary School of Ham Lake. In 1965, Helen married Kermit Hoium, they made their home first in Coon Rapids, and later Hopkins.
Helen liked to paint, do cross word puzzles, and volunteer. She enjoyed playing the piano and was the choir director at her church, Mizpah United Church of Christ in Hopkins. She also wrote the Christmas Programs there, gave her time to the Los Amigos program for kids, and served on the funeral committee. She was an avid sports fan she especially liked baseball and the Olympics.
Helen passed away at Cokato Manor on February 23, 2017. She had reached the age of 89 years , 6 months and 29 days. Survivors include her sons: Robert Snell of Webster, WI. Tom (Gwen) Snell of Cokato. Grandchildren Rob of Rice Wisconsin, Jordan (Karen) of Howard Lake, and Justyne of Minneapolis. Great-grandchildren: Christopher, Kayla, Nathan, Kaden, Kaitlyn.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Elsie Petersen, husband Kermit Hoium, daughter-in-law Jo Ann Snell, sister Margaret Bredshears, and brothers Jack and George.

Arlene Ann Russell passed away at the Cokato Marnor on February 21, 2017.
Mass of Christian Burial: 11 AM Saturday, February 25, 2017 at St. Johns Catholic Church of Darwin
Visitation: 4-7 PM Friday, at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1 hour prior to service at church on Saturday
Interment Church Cemetery
Arlene Ann (Boerner) Russell was born on June 5, 1933, in Litchfield, Minnesota to William and Mary Magdalyn (Turck) Boerner. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Phillips Catholic Church of Litchfield.
In 1951 Arlene graduated from Litchfield High School. In 1953 she married Ralph Russell. They lived in Dassel for two and a half years before moving to the Russell family farm east of Dassel, where they were blessed with 6 children: Jerome (Jerry), John, Joel, Mary, James (Jim) and Jeffery (Jeff). Arlene was employed for nearly 30 years at the Cokato Manor as a C.N.A. and rehab aid, and at Lakeview Ranch by Darwin.
She was a active and dedicated member of St. John’s Catholic Church of Darwin where she taught catechism, did jail ministry, and brought the Holy Eucharist to, and visited with the homebound, she also did scripture meditation at various places and taught religious instruction. The Russell’s were pleased to provide the land for the St. John’s Educational Center. In 2009 Arlene and Ralph left the farm and moved into a townhouse in Dassel.
Arlene passed away at Cokato Manor on February 21, 2017. She had reached the age of 83 years, 7 months and 16 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Fred (Helen), Clifford (Shirley), Orville (Delores), and James Boerner and brother-in-law, Bill Necklen. Sisters: Lucille (Jed), Adeline (Orville), and grandson Jesse. Survivors include: Her husband of 63 years, Ralph and their children: Jerome (Liz) of Duluth, John (Jenny) of Cokato, Joel of Cokato, Mary (Kelly) Sinclair of Monticello, James of Cokato and Jeffrey of Cokato. Grandchildren: Michael Russell of Big Lake, Jonathan (Cheryl) Russell of Marietta, GA, Sarah (Peter) Wlosinski of Duluth, Jordon Russell of Hutchinson, Andrew Swan, Alex, and Logan Sinclair of Monticello, Brandon (Carman) Russell of Buffalo, Scott (Liz) Russell of Howard Lake, Ashley Russell and fiancé Austin Peterson of South Haven, Daniel of Cokato, Zack, Tyler, and Tara Russell of Hutchinson. Great grandchildren: Elizabeth, Caleb, Nolan, Brielle, Avery, Raylan, Whitley, Harper, Arianna, and Jameson. Special Granddog, Jaxon.
She is further survived by: Brothers and sisters: Isabelle Kolarchik of Butte, MT, Vernon Boerner of Butte, MT, Louise Necklen of Monticello, Jerry (Millie) Boerner of Burnsville, Willard (Geri) Boerner of Minnetonka, Brother Peter Claver, OFM of Manitowoc, WI,and sister-in-law Joan Boerner of Minneapolis. In addition to many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Arlene is preceded in death by her parents William and Mary Boerner, grandson Jesse, and 6 siblings.

Loren Roepke was born in Hutchinson, Minnesota on November 11, 1946. He was a life-long resident of Minnesota graduating from Hutchinson High School in 1965. He married Karen Lee Reyo on April 27, 1968. He served in the U.S. Army in the 452nd General Supply Company in 1968 and 1969. After returning from Vietnam, he worked at the Eaton Corporation for 35 years. He and Karen lived in Glencoe until 1984 when they moved north to Cokato. He had a life-long love for antique cars—particularly his 1937 Ford grain truck. He enjoyed threshing bees, camping, and spending time with his dachshund Bodsie.
Loren passed away at home on February 19, 2017. He reached the age of 70 years, 3 months, and 8 days.
He is survived by his wife, Karen; his brothers: Melvin, Virgil, and Glendon Roepke; his children: Debra Roepke, Robert Roepke, and Michele Roepke Skoog; four grandchildren: Sophia and Charissa Nelson, Emma and Greta Skoog.

Visitation begins at 1 p.m. with memorial service at 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 23 at Cokato Manor, 180 Sunset Avenue N, Cokato MN. Interment: 11:45 a.m. at Fort Snelling on Monday, February 26. All are welcome. Please be on site by 11:30.

James Toralv Shofner of Howard Lake passed away at Harmony River Living Center of Hutchinson on February 15, 2017
Memorial Service: 2:00 PM Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake
Visitation: beginning at 1 PM Sunday
Interment: Riverside Cemetery of Osage, Minnesota
James Toralv Shofner was born on February 24, 1938, at Nimrod, Minnesota to Rynard and Olga (Olson) Shofner. He was baptized in the Baptist Church. He grew up in northern Minnesota attending Park Rapids High School first and graduating from Hibbing High School.
After High School, he lived in Aurora and worked in the Iron mine. He entered the United States Army. After service, he came back to Aurora to work in the mine. James later moved to Minneapolis and went to work for Bennett Material Handling, as a fork lift mechanic. He worked there for 30 years retiring in 2000.
In 1968 James married Connie Kimler. On November 11, 1989 James married Jo Ann Beyer-Gehrke. In 2001 the couple moved to Howard Lake.
James liked the outdoors, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He liked old cars and restored a 1951 Cadillac. He was a member of operating engineer’s 49 union.
James passed away on February 15, 2017 at Harmony River Living Center of Hutchinson, Minnesota. He had reached the age of 78 years, 11 months and 21 days.
Survivors include: wife Jo Ann of Howard Lake, son Michael (Tanisha) Shofner of Arden Hills. Daughter Shelly (Justin) Pintabona of Petaluma, California. Step son Tony Gehrke of Annandale. Grandchildren: Abigail, Parker, Mason, Brittany, Shelby, Sara Jo, and Dylan. Great grandchildren: Hailey, Devin, Raven, Karter, and Arlo. Brothers and sisters: Donna (deceased), Gene (Alice), Jerry (deceased) his wife Carol, Pete (Judy), Bard (Vicki), Barbara (Ronald), Sheryl, Caroline (John), Russell (Debbie), Allen (Mike) deceased, Laurie, Edna (deceased) and Elizabeth. Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.