Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Ernest ”Ernie” Eino Hillukka, 68, of Cokato, MN, passed away suddenly due to heart failure on July 8, 2016, while on vacation in Kirkland, Washington.
He was born on September 3, 1947, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the eldest of three children to Eino and Miriam (Hendrickson) Hillukka. After spending his childhood in Wolf Lake and attending school in Menahga, he attended college at Bemidji State University. Later, he joined the Army Reserve, then moved to the Twin Cities.
Ernie was joined in marriage to Rauha Liisa Karvonen on April 1, 1972 in a double wedding with Rauha’s brother and his bride, Aaro and Marcella Karvonen, in Seattle, Washington. Ernie and Rauha lived for a short time in the Twin Cities and Cokato before moving to live on the family farm in Wolf Lake, Minnesota, where they lived for over 40 years. He spent his entire career at Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association and recently retired in the fall of 2014. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife and grandchildren in the RV to state parks. He also spent much of his time walking – lately averaging over 20,000 steps daily.
Ernie was soft-spoken and gentle. However, his quiet sense of humor brightened many people’s days. He was respected for his honest and sincere approach to life. He was passionately interested in everything related to farming. He loved talking with farmers about all aspects of farming, window shopping for farm machinery, and observing cattle. He worked at the “moo booth” at the Minnesota State Fair for several years. He also enjoyed attending small town festivals and parades. He participated in the Wolf Lake Harvest Festival parade several years. Politics was another passion, and he was a local school board member for several years. He was a long-time member of the Wolf Lake Laestadian Lutheran Church, where he served as treasurer for several years. He was a dedicated grandfather and doted on his grandchildren. They knew he was always a reliable source for a piece of gum or licorice. He traveled to most states in the continental US and also Alaska and Hawaii. He also enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime trip with his wife to Australia.
Ernest is preceded in death by his parents, his son Greg, his niece Annette Hillukka, and his great-niece Aria Hillukka. He is survived by his wife Rauha; three of his children: Jodi (Patrick) Tierney of Eden Prairie, MN; Gary (Aimee) Hillukka of Cokato, MN; and Julie (Jeffrey) Early of Kirkland, WA; his daughter-in-law, Jaclyn Hillukka of Cokato, MN; his brother Elmer (Helen) Hillukka of Buffalo, MN; and his sister Elaine (Rod) Nikula of Buffalo, MN. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Faye, Slade, Cora, Bryer, Brynn, Kyla, Ladd, and Lund Hillukka; Sydney, Alex, Tenley, Knox, Griffin, and Vance Hillukka; and Tevian Early. He will be missed by many nieces, nephews, great-nephews and great-nieces, cousins, close friends, brothers and sisters in faith and many friends on Facebook.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 17, 5pm-8pm with devotion at 7pm. Funeral service will be Monday, July 18th with visitation at 10am followed by 11am service.
Both visitation and funeral services will be at Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church, 16144 20th Street SW, Cokato, MN. Burial will be at Cokato Finnish Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Swanson Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Cokato and Howard Lake, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

Mark Glessing of Howard Lake Passed away at Harmony River Care Center of Hutchinson on July 2, 2016.
Funeral Service: 11 AN Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at St. James Lutheran School of Howard Lake
Visitation: 5-8 PM Tuesday July 5, at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake and 1 hr prior to service at church on Wed.
Prayer Service: 7 PM Tuesday
Interment: St. James Lutheran Cemetery
Obituary
Marvin “Mark” Jacob Glessing was born March 22, 1925 on the family farm southwest of Howard Lake, Minnesota the son of Jacob and Ethel (Pettit) Glessing. A lifelong member of St. James Lutheran Church, Howard Lake he was baptized on May 31, 1925 by Reverend Oetjen and confirmed in his faith on April 10, 1938 by Reverend C.G, Seltz. He attended country school and St. James Lutheran School.
At age 17, he enlisted in the Navy on April 7, 1943. After basic training he detached to the Marines Medical Corps Schooling at Faragot, Idaho before being transferred abroad. He faced 82 days of combat and was on the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay when the peace treaty was signed. It was on Easter Sunday, April 7, 1946, that Marvin was discharged exactly three years to the day of enlisting. He always gave thanks to God for being with him especially during this time.
On August 25, 1951 Marvin and Delores Krohn began their married life together at St. James Lutheran Church. This marriage was blessed with three children Cheryl, Kent and Joan.
Marvin’s career was in the construction business having worked in Greenland for a couple months he crossed the Artic Circle. Upon returning to Howard Lake, he joined Johnson Brothers Highway Construction working as a foreman. In his retirement, he enjoyed being outdoors on his hobby farm, planting apple trees and having many, many picnics with family and friends. His grandchildren were his pride and joy giving them tractor rides and taking them sledding. Gardening was very important to him and he was always thankful at harvest time.
Church was very meaningful to him. As a faithful member of St. James he served on the Stewardship and Cemetery Boards.
Due to ill health, he spent time at the VA in St. Cloud until last March when he moved to the Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson.
It was on July 2, 2016 while surrounded by his family that Marvin was called to his heavenly home having reached the age of 91 years, 3 months and 10 days.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Ruth Kramer, Lloyd Glessing, Eldon Glessing, Laurel Glessing, Dale Glessing, Gerald Glessing and an infant sister; sisters-in-law Doral Glessing and Gladys Glessing; niece Susan Larson; great-niece Barbara Glessing and great-nephew Adam Larson.
Marvin is survived by his loving wife Delores of 64 years; children Cheryl Moist of Waverly, Kent and wife Renee Glessing of Hutchinson and Joan husband Marty Boss of Montrose; six grandchildren Joshua Moist, Tom, Amy and Sean Glessing, Jacob and Megan Boss; four great-grandchildren Logan Moist, Britton Glessing, Marshall Boss and Landon Lee; two sisters-in-law Fern Glessing of Cokato and Joyce Glessing of Howard Lake; nieces; nephews and other relatives and friends.

Phyllis Working of Howard Lake, passed away on June 29, 2016 at her home.
Memorial service: 2 PM Friday July 8, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Howard Lake
Visitation will begin 1 hr prior to service.
Early Wednesday, June 29, 2016, Phyllis Jean (Johnson) Working passed away. After a nine month battle with colon cancer, God brought her home to be with her heavenly family. Phyllis was born in Walker, Minnesota on December 2, 1939. On September 27, 1958, she married Everett Charles Working at the North Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Phyllis was preceded in death by her father Roy Johnson, her mother Esther Johnson, her brother Robert Johnson, daughters Kristin Anderson and Andrea Diers, and granddaughter Alexis Anderson. She is survived by her husband Everett, her sister Mary Ann Wilkerson, her daughter Erika Working, and grandchildren Eric Anderson, Rosa Yaeger, Jenna Diers, and Hanna, Taylor, and Emily Ruoho.
For over thirty years, Phyllis and Everett owned their own house painting company. Together they worked long hours and then came home to spend time with their family. Phyllis was a ton of love and tenacity in a pint-sized package. She passed those traits on to each of her children and eventually her grandchildren. Phyllis enjoyed spending her free time traveling with Everett, heading anywhere they could park their camper, visiting friends and family everywhere. During winter, Phyllis enjoyed living in Rockport, Texas soaking in the Gulf of Mexico air, fresh seafood, and avoiding the lovely Minnesota winters.
During the summer, Phyllis spent her time at her house around Lake Mary. She enjoyed gardening and visiting with her friends and family. Her gardens were gorgeous creations that could brighten any day and kept her and Everett in fresh vegetables all summer.
Phyllis has touched so many lives with her unique brand of love and spunk. In the words of her husband, “We had spark and a great ride together.”

Ziebarth, Kenneth
age 76 of Winsted 06/26/16 at his home. Preceded in death by his parents George and Sophia, sister in law Alice and nephew Steven. Survived by loving neighbors and care givers Butch and Betty Babcock and Eugene Hill. Brothers Clayton, Melvin (Joan) and very special nephew Jake. Also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews and his very special friend, “that little guy” Jason.

Kenneth was a Vietnam Veteran in the US Army E-5. Member American Legion Martin Krueger Post 407. Graduate Holy Trinity High School. Retired From 3M.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 30, 2016 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted, Minnesota. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake, 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com

Dorothy June Grosskreutz Morris
June 10-1926 – June 14, 2016

Dorothy June Grosskreutz was born on June 10, 1926 to Ernest and Dorothy (Niemann) Grosskreutz in Sharon, North Dakota. Dorothy graduated from St. Paul Park High School in 1944 and then worked at South St. Paul Stockyard Exchange building . On November 10th, 1945 Dorothy married Howard Morris at the Woodbury Lutheran Church. They began their married life in Cokato, moving to Stockholm where they spent their entire married life. Howard and Dorothy had two children, Ernie and Hilaire.

Dorothy was very active in many different organizations including the Wright County Fair Board and the State Fair and through the years, they attended all 97 county fairs in Minnesota. Dorothy was a leader for the Lightening Workers 4H Club. It was during that time,she was chaperoning a 4-H roller skating party, she fell on her roller skates and broke her arm! She was also very involved with the Stockholm Lutheran Church and typed the Stockholm Story newsletter for many years. Howard and Dorothy provided their camper to be used as a dressing room for the queens during each Cokato Corn Carnival Dorothy worked with Howard for several years in the American Family Insurance office as well as the DMV Registrars Office. Some of her fondest memories include skating on the Mississippi River with Howard and walking through the Grey Cloud Island Woods.

Dorothy enjoyed her neighbors, their winter home in Arizona, eating out and traveling the United States. She also liked to “be in charge”. Her favorite flower was the rose, Gone with the Wind and Sound of Music were her favorite movies and mashed potatoes and gravy was her favorite food. Her hobbies included embroidering, crocheting, learning new crafts, making quilt rugs, putting puzzles together, visiting and traveling. Dorothy and Howard traveled in every state except Alaska. She loved camping, county and state fairs and parades. She also did a beautiful job decorating fancy cakes. Many of her friends and neighbors had the pleasure of sampling those pretty cakes.

Dorothy is survived by her son Ernest and his wife Marge, her daughter Hilaire and her husband Michael Diers. Her grandchildren are Debbie McDonald, Jeff Morris, Garner (Jill) Diers and Christine Diers. Great grandchildren are Zachary Morris, Zachary Diers, Kelly Cunningham, Jade Cunningham, Tucker Sha and Trevor Diers.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Howard Ellsworth Morris, who passed away March 12th, 2006.

When asked what she felt was her greatest accomplishment, she states: Being happy, raising her family in a small community and having lots of friends all over the United States.

Dorothy passed away at Cokato Manor on June 14, 2016 at the age of 90 years and 4 days old.

Visitation for Dorothy will be on Wednesday, June 22 from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Stockholm Lutheran Church. Funeral service is June 23 at 11:00 AM and is also at the Stockholm Lutheran Church. Burial to follow the service. Lunch will be served at the church.