Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

LaVerne Custer of Howard Lake, passed away at St. Marys Care Center of Winsted on 6/10/2016.  survived by her children; Linda (Darril) Telecky of Winsted, Steven (Pamela) Custer of Savage and Brenda (Terry) Dalbec of Delano.

Funeral; 11 AM Thursday, 6/16/2016 at St. James Lutheran School of Howard Lake.  Visitation 4-8 PM Wednesday  and 1hr prior to service on Thursday all at St. James School.  Prayer Service; 7PM Wednesday.  Interment Church Cemetery. LaVerne Leona Eleanor Custer was born August 10, 1925 on the Luhman family farm southwest of Howard Lake, Minnesota to Alfred and Clara (Klammer) Luhman. A lifelong member of St. James Lutheran Church, Howard Lake she was baptized on September 6, 1925 and confirmed in her faith on April 2, 1939.
On February 4, 1945, LaVerne and Donald Custer began their married life together at St. James Lutheran Church. This marriage was blessed with three children. They made their home and living on the family farm where she had been born. As a farmwife she drove tractor for baling hay, raised chickens and now and then took care of a few pigs. Every summer she had large vegetable and flower gardens, growing cucumbers for canning her famous dill pickles and taking special care to raise her beloved gladiolas.
For many years she and Donald enjoyed getting away to a cabin on Fish Trap Lake and in later years camping with family at Schroeder and Collinwood Parks. LaVerne was employed at the Green Giant canning factory in Cokato for many summers also working at the sewing factory in Howard Lake and later at Gage Marketing Group in Howard Lake.
It was on June 10, 2016 that LaVerne Custer was called to her heavenly home having reached the age of 90 years and 10 months.
She was preceded in death by her husband Donald; parents Alfred and Clara Luhman; and siblings Hubert Luhman, Harriet Gronlund, Eugene Luhman, Adelbert Luhman and Harvey Luhman.
LaVerne is survived by her children Linda (Darril) Telecky of Winsted, Steven (Pamela) Custer of Savage, Brenda (Terry) Dalbec of Delano; six grandchildren Jill (Anthony) Adrian, Aaron (Anna) Telecky, Abby (Brandon) Corbesia, Shane (Pauli) Custer, Nathan (Wenyi) Dalbec and Andrew Dalbec; six great grandchildren Nikolas and Samantha Adrian, Isabelle and Ruth Telecky, Samuel and Cecelia Corbesia and Mia Rich.
She is further survived by her brother Arvid (Violet) Luhman; nieces, nephews; many friends and neighbors.
Casket bearers are Nathan Dalbec, Andrew Dalbec, Aaron Telecky, Shane Custer, Kevin Gronlund and Jim Gronlund.

Lucille Esther Greenhagen
age 91, of rural Annandale went to her heavenly home on June 8, 2016 at the Annandale Care Center. She was born October 14, 1924 in Albion Township to Paul and Antonette (Johnson) Kammerer. Lucille graduated from Annandale High School in 1942 and was united in marriage to Alfred Greenhagen on December 27, 1942. They were married for 59 years before Alfred preceded her in death in 2002. To this union 5 children were born.
She enjoyed life on the farm, as well as gardening, fishing, sewing, baking, cooking, crocheting, quilting, and most of all spending time with her family. Lucille was active in LWML, and other church activities at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN.
Survived by her children, Howard (Sherry) Greenhagen of Minnetonka, Harold Greenhagen of Annandale, LuAnn Baum of Santa Rosa, CA. Carol (Len) Potvin of Rice Lake, WI. and Lynette (Bill) Cordell of Annandale, 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, along with other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son in-law, Barry, grandson, Kim, siblings, Florence and Alfred.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at St. James Lutheran School (Fellowship Hall). A time of gathering will take place 2 hrs prior to the service in the Fellowship Hall. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, MN www.swansonpeterson.com 320-543-3401

Karen Louise Lantto Willcox passed away peacefully on May 31, 2016, at Methodist Hospital surrounded by family and friends. She was born on November 09, 1955, in the base hospital of Wright-Patterson A.F.B. in Dayton, Ohio, to Ernest and Louise Lantto.
Karen will be remembered for who she was as a person and her many gifts. Her love of the arts and singing were on display in her high school years with the Bonn American High School musical group, “The X”. Her sense of adventure led her to travel throughout Europe in the 1970s. Her goofy sense of humor brought wry smiles and chuckles to all she met.
Karen attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, graduating in 1978 with a degree in Sociology and German.
On June 05, 1981, Karen married the love of her life, Mark E. Willcox. After five years of living on the East Coast, they moved to Minnetonka, Minnesota, where they raised their two children.
In addition to being a mother, Karen worked as a paraprofessional at Minnetonka High School, where she assisted many developmentally challenged students with their day-to-day routines. She was praised for her compassion and hard work on their behalf. She enjoyed singing, being surrounded by friends and family, laughing, and playing games. Though she may not have been aware of them all, she touched many lives and many hearts.
Karen is survived by her mother and father, Louise and Ernest Lantto; her husband, Mark Willcox; son, Stanton Willcox; daughter, Emma Willcox; sister, Julia Hansen (Jeff); and three brothers, Orville Lantto (Sue), Eric Lantto (Tisha), and Sam Lantto (Deb). She also leaves behind numerous loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Memorial service details below:
June 15, 3 PM greeting, 4 PM service
Mayflower Congregational Church
106 East Diamond Lake Road, Minneapolis
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Family Friends Inc.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato
www.swansonpeterson.com
320-286-2534

Audrey passed away after a long battle with cancer at Waconia Ridgeview Medical Center on May 31, 2016.
Memorial Service: 1PM, Saturday, June 11, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake.
Visitation 1hr prior to service on Saturday
Interment Howard Lake Cemetery

Clarence Salmela of Silver Lake, Passed away at home on May 30, 2016.
an evening of visitation will be 4-8 PM Monday June 6, 2016 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato
Prayer Service at 7:00 PM
Interment will be at FT. Snelling National Cemetery on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 1:00 PM

Clarence “Kelly” Donald Salmela was born in Cokato, Minnesota on May 28, 1949, to Richard and Fannie (Wanha) Salmela. He grew up in Cokato and was Baptized and Confirmed at the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church North of town. In 1967 he graduated from Cokato High School.

On March 27, 1969 Clarence joined the US Army. After Basic training at Ft. Bragg, NC he served with the 1st Air Cavalry Division, 8th Cavalry, and served for 14 months in Vietnam as a combat medic. He received the Bronze Star with “V” for heroism, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Battle Stars, Vietnam Campaign medal, Presidential unit Citation, meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Combat medic Badge, 1st Cavalry Division Airmobile Vietnam combat Certificate, Certificate of appreciation from President Nixon, Certificate of appreciation from General Westmoreland.

After service Clarence came back to Cokato where he tended bar at the Troll Inn until becoming the Maintenance Supervisor at HTI in Hutchinson. He married Marilyn Rozeske, to this union 2 children; Melissa and Chad were born. The family lived in rural Silver Lake. Clarence retired in the late 90’s. Clarence enjoyed fishing, watching western movies, tractor pulls and taking drives.

Clarence passed away at home in Silver Lake on May 30, 2016, he had reached the age of 67 years and 2 days.

Survivors include: special friend Gloriann Bastin of Silver Lake, Daughter Melissa (Joseph) Barsness of Lakeville, MN, Son: Chad (Sarah) Salmela of St. Cloud their son Peyton and one on the way Sophia. Sisters; Margaret “Muggs” (Leonard) Kieser of Winsted, Verna Quale of Buffalo, and brother Clifford (Bertha) Salmela of Reno, Nevada. Nieces and nephews other relatives and many friends.

Clarence was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Fannie, Brother Jim, Grandson Caleb, Brother-in-law Dennis Quale, Sister-in-law Darlene and Niece Penny.