Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Lois Maxine Carlson was born in Elbow Lake, MN on April 15, 1930 to Lloyd Sr. and Myrtle Christianson. She grew up on a farm in Elbow Lake and graduated from Elbow Lake High School. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Carlson on August 12, 1949. Lois and Kenny were blessed with two children, Mark and Julie. The family lived in Elbow Lake until 1964, and then moved to Cokato, MN. Kenny was the Principal of Dassel-Cokato High School and Lois worked at Forsberg Income Tax Office as a tax preparer. She enjoyed spending her summers at Eagle Lake with family and friends. During the school year she enjoyed her volunteer work at the school and church, traveling, reading, plays, concerts and cooking. Lois truly enjoyed being a loving mother and wife.

Lois passed away at the age of 85 at her daughter’s home in Breckenridge on Sunday, December 13, 2015.

Lois is survived by her children, Mark Carlson of Fargo, ND, Julie Rettig of Breckenridge, MN and grandson Ryan Rettig of Fargo, ND.

Preceeded in death by her parents, husband Kenny, sister Marjorie Larson, brothers Lloyd Christianson, Jr., Dwaine Christianson, and Jerry Gord, and other family members.

A celebration of life will take place at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato, MN. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & cremation Services, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Wendolek, Theophil Joseph Jr.
age 86, of Cokato passed away on December 6, 2015 at the Cokato Manor. He was born February 11, 1929 at his home farm in Silver Lake, Minnesota to Theophil and Sophie (Pilarski) Wendolek. Theophil farmed for several years prior to working at Johnson produce and later at Ralston Purina for 39 years. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Cox on August 2, 1949. This union was blessed with the birth of five children.
Theophil enjoyed spending time with his family, going to the Casino and traveling to Branson with Mary Ann. He also liked auctions and collecting antiques. Theophil was a talented musician, playing the concertina and the drums with his son, Joe, nephew, Jim, and friends. He was very proud of his Polish heritage. Theophil was known as a “Diamond in the Rough” by his friends at Edgewood Gables.
He is survived by his children, Bonita (Roland) Hansen, Linda (Jim) Carlen, Joe (Lisa) Wendolek, Pamela (Randy) Nowak, and Lisa Weiss. Theophil is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Helen Melquist.
Preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann, and 2 siblings, Donald and Albert.
A memorial service will take place at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 11 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin, Minnesota. A time of gathering will be held 1 hour prior to the service at church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

PEARL HERMANN

Pearl F. Hermann, 96, died December 1, 2015, at Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, December 7, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato with the Rev. Tim Wheatley officiating. A time of gathering will be held 1 hour prior to services at the church. Music was by Karen Anderson and Roger Klinghagen, Chaplain at Emmanuel Home. Interment was at Cokato Finnish Cemetery.

Pearl Florence Salmela, daughter of Hjalmer and Lydia (Jacobson) Salmela, was born April 24, 1919, in Cokato Township. She attended Dewey School and graduated from Cokato High School in 1938. She married Bert Hultgren on October 12, 1940. To this union two children, Craig and Karen, were born. On July 6, 1963, she married Fred Hermann at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo. They lived in Buffalo, at Lake Francis in French Lake Township, and in Cokato before moving in 1989 to Litchfield. In 1997 they moved to Emmaus Place in Litchfield. Pearl moved to Emmanuel Home in June 2014.

Pearl was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of French Lake. She was a member of Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church and was an active member of WELCA when she lived in Buffalo and Cokato. She was also a member of the Cokato Historical Society and the Cokato Finnish American Historical Society.

She loved spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed Bible study, crafts, quilting, gardening, jigsaw puzzles and volunteer work. Pearl and Fred traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada, and enjoyed a memorable trip to Denmark in 1978. They spent 17 winters in Alamo, Texas.

Pearl is survived by her daughter, Karen (David) Christofferson of South Haven; daughter-in-law, Judy Hultgren of Superior, Wisconsin; seven grandsons, Scott (Rhoda) Hultgren, Christopher (Deirdre) Hultgren, Patrick (Kim) Hultgren, Douglas (Heather) Hultgren, Chad (Alecia) Hultgren, Bruce (Lisa) Christofferson, and Brian (Julie) Christofferson; 15 great-grandchildren, Lexi, Olivia, Carver, Connor, Walker, Rachel, Kayla, Amelia, Jameson, George, Zachary, Will, Lela Pearl, Greta and Ian; sister, Agnes Tormanen of California, brother, Chester “Chet” (Jeanne) Salmela of Wisconsin, and many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Fred, in 2014; son, Craig Hultgren, in 2005; six siblings and their spouses, Alma (George) Isaacson, Peggy (Bill) Nelson, Hazel (Gary) Haerle, Harry (Eleanor) Salmela, Archie (Pauline) Salmela, Bernice (Chuck) Lindell, and brother-in-law, Ray Tormanen.

Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Service was in charge of arrangements, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

Steven passed away at his home in Eagan with his family and friends around him on November 28, 2015
Funeral Service: 1PM Friday, December 4, 2015 at Cedar Valley Church 8600 Bloomington Avenue South, Bloomington, Minnesota
Visitation: 4-8 PM Thursday December 3, at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr prior to service on Friday at Church.
Prayer Service: 7 PM Thursday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home.

Steve J. Mattson, Cofounder of Northland Securities, Long time financial advisor to Minnesota Cities, loving husband, father, grandfather, family and friend to many of Eagan died at home on Saturday, November 28, 2015 surrounded by family and close friends.

Steve started his career in 1972 with the small securities firm Juran & Moody. Over his career, Steve structured and marketed over 2,000 bond issues for Minnesota Cities. Steve had many loyal cities that came to him year after year as cities needed to enter the capital markets. In 1996, Juran and Moody was sold to Miller Johnson and Steve worked for Miller Johnson until 2002. It was then, Steve and four other cofounders formed Northland Securities, Northland Networks, and Northland Trust Services. In 2004, Steve and his cofounders also founded Northland Capital Holdings. Steve had a number of cities that worked exclusively with him to raise monies with the issuance of tax exempt bonds. Steve was proud to have worked with some cities for 43 continuous years, such as Apple Valley, Prior Lake, Waite Park, Appleton, Lake Crystal, Crosby, Dassel, and many more.

Steve passed away Saturday afternoon, at his home surrounded by loving family and close childhood friends. Steve was born on January 13, 1950, grew up in Cokato, graduated from Cokato High School in 1968, and graduated from St. Cloud State University in 1972 with a major in Finance and Economics. Steve was a member of the Apple Valley Rotary for 30 years, where he served the Apple Valley Rotary Club and District 5950 in various capacities. Steve was most proud to be the cofounder of the Rotary Safe Water Plus providing safe drinking water to small villages and 3rd world countries.

Steve is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mary. His son Dr. Andrew Mattson (Chialing) and daughter Chunny Daiker (John), and 4 grandchildren; Madelynn & Leo Mattson and Bryce & Stevie Daiker. 2 Sisters, Susan Johnson (Robert) of Eagan and Carol Semke (Bruce) of Cokato with numerous loving nieces, nephews, and friends. Steve is preceded in death by his parents Gordy & Isabelle.

Please join us for a Celebration of Steve’s Life. Wake services on Dec 3, 2015 from 4-8pm at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home 655 Broadway Ave South, Cokato, MN 55321, (320) 286-2534. Funeral services on Dec 4, 2015 at 1:00pm at Cedar Valley Church 8600 Bloomington Ave South, Bloomington, MN 55425, (952) 854-1100. Reviewal will be 1 hour prior to service.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorials preferred to: The Rotary Foundation – Annual Fund, 1560 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL, 60201 and Hennepin County Medical Center Cancer Center, 701 Park Ave, Mail Code G1, Minneapolis, MN 55415.

Georgia passed away November 26, 2015 at Heritage Place of Cokato. Funeral Service will be at noon on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, Visitation will begin at 11AM. Interment will be at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery
She was born in Waubay, SD and was married to Duane M Smith for 60 years. They resided in Chanhassen, MN for over 50 years where they raised their three sons.
Georgia is preceded in death by her husband Duane and her sister Sybil. She is also survived by her sons, Ron (Cindy) Massillon, OH, Roger of Canton, SD, Todd (Trudi) of Cokato, MN. Grandsons include Jarid (Kezia) of Rochester, MN and Nathan (Brittney) of Sioux Falls, SD and their daughter Charlotte. Step grandchildren include Angela (Greg) Swanson and their children Madilyn, Brylee and Emily of Otsego, MN and Tara Storts of Monticello, MN. Also surviving are her two sisters Jewel Wattier of Sioux Falls, SD and Gloria (Charles) Gilbertson of Moorhead, MN and many nieces and nephews.
Georgia worked for many years at the Excelsior bakery and then at K-Mart where she worked in the office. After she retired from K-Mart she always had a helping hand for her friends that she loved very much. She was very involved in her children, grandchildren/step grandchildren’s lives. She will be greatly missed by her family.