Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

RONALD MICHAEL JOHNSON
Ronald (Ron) passed away at his home on the 7th of
September 2016. He was a 55 years old.
Ron was the 13th of the 15 children of Robert R and Eva F
Johnson (Nee: Tulkki). He was born on the 10th of March
1961.
Ron had 14 siblings. 10 boys and 4 girls.
Stephen, Robert, Dagny Kangas (Jerry), Richard, Thomas,
Loren (Bonnie), Gordon (Linda), Daryl, Barbara Eastman
(Eric), JulieAnn Rahkola (John), Phillip, Stuart, Timothy
(Mari) and Heidi Rahkola (Kurt).
Preceding in death by one parent: Eva F Johnson and four siblings: Robert, Dagny,
Thomas and Phillip.
Despite living with and receiving assistance from his parents and family, Ron
contributed in numerous helpful ways. Ron never demanded any special assistance and
he carried any burdens without complaint.
Memorial services on Saturday, the 24th of September at 1:30 pm. Held at the
Minneapolis Laestadian Church; 13030 47th Avenue North Plymouth, MN 55442.
All are welcome.

Vivian Helen (Kuglin) Rien, 100 years, 11 months & 1 day, went home to be with the Lord at the Cokato Manor Nursing Home on Thursday, September 1, 2016.

A Celebration of Life service will be on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at Albion Evangelical Free Church, Cokato, MN at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Philip Geoffrion officiating. Music by Norma Geoffrion. A lunch will follow.

Vivian was born September 30, 1915 in Renville County to the late Fred and Annie (Ahrendt) Kuglin. Vivian attended the Middle Creek Evangelical Church where she was both baptized and confirmed. Vivian attended Beckyn District 27 Country School and Renville High School.

On March 2, 1941 she was united in marriage to Alvin Rien of Paynesville, MN at the Middle Creek Evangelical Church in North Redwood. Following the marriage, they moved to a farm south of Annandale. On this farm they spent many joyous years working the farm and raising three children. In 1980 they semi-retired after 39 years. They moved across the road from their farm until Alvin passed away in 1992. In 1996 Vivian moved to Cokato. Alvin and Vivian joined Albion Evangelical Free Church in 1943 where they were faithful members and workers for the Lord. At the time of Vivian’s passing, she was the oldest living member of Albion Church.

Survivors include a daughter; Gloria (Lawrence) Kroshka of Peoria, AZ; son, David (Gwen) Rien of Cokato and their children and grandchildren; Terry (Debbie) Marcus and Devan; Jarrod (Jen) Cameron, Phillip, Tyler, and Alannah; Chad; Shane (Shauna); Misse -Keegan and Haley; Ryley; son Steven (Judy) Rien of Annandale and their children and grandchildren; Matthew (Amy) Katelyn, Brantley, Emma, and Adeline; Michael (Melanie) Rowen and Nora. sister-in-law Edna Kuglin, nieces, nephews and friends.

Vivian was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin in 1992, her mother in 1918 and her father in 1953, brothers – Walter, Lawrence and Orville, sisters – Sylvia, Mable and Pearl.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a memorial may be sent to Albion Ev. Free Church.

Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Donald Henry Westphal was born February 13, 1928 in St. Peter, Minnesota, the son of Henry and Caroline (Luebke) Westphal. He was baptized on July 13, 1928 at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Peter and confirmed in his faith at this same church on June 6, 1943. He grew up on the family farm attending country grade school and graduating from St. Peter High School on May 29, 1946. To go to high school he would ride horse to the neighbor’s farm and then catch a ride into town with them. Joining the Army he served his country until receiving a medical discharge after which he found employment at a stone quarry in Kasota, Minnesota.
Donald began his married life with Vivian Starke on September 25, 1951 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Nicollet, Minnesota. Their marriage was blessed with three children.
After graduating from Barber School in 1952 he began his career in Osseo before purchasing the Barber Shop in Howard Lake, which he owned and operated from 1954 to 2009. For 20 years he also drove school bus. As a member of St. James Lutheran Church, he served as an Elder, on various church boards and committees.
He enjoyed ice fishing with friends and family, gardening, doing yard work, going on family vacations, listening to old-time music, watching the Twins and spending time with family, grandkids and the great-grandkids. His devotion and care given to his wife Vivian in her last months was a true display of family commitment.
It was on August 21, 2016 while a resident at the Howard Lake Care Center that Donald was called to his eternal rest having reached the age 88 years, 6 months and 8 days
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Vivian; two brothers and three sisters.
Donald is survived by his daughter Deborah (David) Entner of Moose Lake, sons, Steven (Lynette) of Buffalo and Robert (Kelly) of Savage; grandchildren, Kristine, Paul, Philip, Clara, Trenton, Traci, Katie, Lauren and Mallory; great-grandchildren, Noah, Lucy, Fraya, Loretta, Aiden, Ryder, Hattie, Melanie, Rue, Hartley with another due in September; two great-step-grandchildren Tylor and Kyle; one sister Pearl Savoy of New Ulm; sister-in-law Marlys Peters (Jerome); brother-in-law Emil Starke, Jr.; nieces; nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral Service; 11 AM Thursday, 8/25/2016, at St. James Lutheran School of Howard Lake. Visitation: 4-7 PM Wednesday, at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake and 1hr prior to Funeral Service Thursday at church. Prayer service: 7 PM Wednesday, Interment Howard Lake Cemetery

Donald Lanning of Cokato, passed away on August 18, 2016.
Memorial Service will be on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 2 PM. at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato

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Donald Leo Lanning was born on May 25, 1935, at Louisville, Kentucky. He lived in Texas for a short time but grew up mainly in Louisville. He graduated from St. Xavier High School, Louisville, Kentucky. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps (in between the Korean Conflict and the U.S. involvement in Vietnam), were he received technical training in the repair and maintenance of aircraft communications systems. After being honorably discharged from the military, he earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Louisville. Combining those skill sets, he was both an electrician and an electrical engineer, and for a while worked at Honeywell with communications and navigation systems for the Apollo space program.

In the early 1980’s he attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and earned an M.B.A.

Much of his working career was at Pillsbury (about 17 years) where he was on staff as an electrical engineer. In the late 1980’s Grand Metropolitan acquired Pillsbury and eliminated the staff engineers, he then became an electrical consultant for a variety of architectural firms, most recently EDC (Engineering Design Consultants), retiring just last year.

His prior marriage was to Carolyn Marie Lanning, which ended with her unexpected passing in July of 1990.

He lived in Minneapolis until 1973 then Hopkins until his marriage to Lucille Lorence on March 20, 1993. The couple made their home in Cokato.

Donald enjoyed everything about trains and was a model railroad enthusiast. He was an amateur historian, photographer. a student of the guitar, and until just a few years ago (once his leg no longer allowed him to stand without a cane) a home improvement do-it-yourself-er.

Donald passed away on August 18, 2016. He had reached the age of 81 years, 2 months and 23 days.

Survivors include; his wife Lucille of Cokato, son Michael Lanning of Hopkins. Step children: Vicky (Doug) Lindgren of Cokato, Randy (Susan) Vogt of Duluth. Step grandchildren: Angie, Jeremiah, Aurora, Anna, Naomi, and Adam.

Nolan, Derek Daniel
age 21, of Cokato passed away with his family by his side. He was born October 17, 1994 in Hutchinson, MN. to Dan and Debbie (Heuer) Nolan. Derek was baptized in the French Lake Lutheran Church. He graduated in 2013 from Dassel-Cokato High School.
Derek enjoyed computer gaming and going to movies with his friends. He also enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, riding his atvs, bikes, and go carts. Derek had a huge heart and talent for helping people.
Preceded in death by his grandparents, Harlen and Marie Nolan, Maryetta Sale, and Ronald Heuer.
Survived by his parents, several aunts, uncles, relatives, and friends.
A celebration of Derek’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, with a time of gathering 2 hours prior to the service at church. Internment immediately following services at the Albion Free Cemetery. Arrangement by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato and Howard Lake, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com