Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Gene Birkholz of Howard Lake, passed away at Good Samaritan Center on 5/11/2016.
Funeral Service: 1 PM Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at St. Johns Lutheran Church of Howard Lake
Visitation: 4-8 PM Monday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, and 1hr prior to service at church on Tuesday
Prayer Service: 7:30 PM Monday at the Funeral Home
Interment St. Paul’s Cemetery of Lester Prairie.

Gene David Birkholz, age 68, of Howard Lake, MN, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at The Good Samaritan Society of Howard Lake.
Gene was born on November 10,1947 at home in Lester Prairie during an early winter snowstorm to Herman and Esther Birkholz. Gene was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Lester Prairie and graduated from Lester Prairie high School in 1965.
After graduation Gene proudly served his country in the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany where he attained the rank of SP5 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
Gene had many occupations. From mechanic, to inside sales, to bookkeeping, but his most rewarding occupation was as a van driver for HLWW School where he transported his special students with kindness and compassion.
Gene loved all sports. He was a four sport athlete in high school playing football, basketball, baseball and track. He then played basketball and baseball for the US Army in Germany. After returning from the service, he played on many amateur baseball and softball teams. He was also an avid golfer and coached several softball and baseball teams, the most recent being the Winsted Wildcats. He also loved watching sports; his favorite teams being Gophers, Twins, Yankees, Vikings and Wild. Gene was a walking talking sports encyclopedia. He always wished he could have been a sports announcer but his aversion to pronouncing names correctly may have gotten him in trouble.
Gene was an active member of American Legion Post 145 where he served in various capacities.
Gene was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, sister Marjal Prehn, and niece Tricia Dammann. He is survived by: his loving wife of 17 years Teri Doering. Children; Terrese (Chad) Norman, Rebecca Birkholz, Tammy (Wayne) Thompson, Jessica (Joe) Keating, and Josh Doering. Grandchildren: Jessica (Karl), Jordan, Joscelyn, DeJuan, Courtney, Mason, Olivia, Ivy, Arianna, and Noah. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters: Betty (Lowell) Wolff, Gordon (Doreen) Birkholz, Doris (Chester) Dammann, Joyce (Larry) Heuer, Robert (Nancy) Birkholz and brother-in-law Glenn Prehn, as well as many nieces and nephews and friends.

Gladys passed away at Cokato Manor on May 10, 2016.
Memorial Service: 11 AM Monday, May 16, 2016 at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato
Visitation: 4-8 PM Sunday, at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1 hour prior to service at church on Monday. Prayer service 7:30 PM Sunday at the Funeral Home.
Interment: Stockholm Lutheran Cemetery.

Gladys B. Peterson was born on the family farm in Middleville Township of Wright County Minnesota on January 28, 1931, to Fred and Alvina (Reek) Buttenhoff. She grew up on the farm one of 11 children and graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1949.
In 1951 Gladys married Donald Peterson at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake. The couple made their home in Cokato where they raised their family. Gladys worked from 1968-1991 at Dura Supreme.
Gladys enjoyed entertaining and having coffee with her friends and neighbors. She was a very giving person and volunteered often in the community at: the Red Cross blood mobile, Cokato Charitable Trust, and meals on wheels. She was very active in her church, Evangelical Lutheran of Cokato, and gave her time to WELCA, the alter guild, quilting and where ever she could be of service.
Gladys passed away at Cokato Manor on May 10, 2016. She had reached the age of 85 years, 3 months and 12 days.
Survivors include her children: Connie (Joey) Berg of Howard Lake, Mike (Theresa) of Montrose, Carla (Robert) Chesley of Mankato, Carol (Bruce) Jones of Mankato.
Grandchildren; Jami (Sarah) Berg, Cari (Joe) Backes, Candice (Brendan) Dolan, Christopher (Amy) Peterson, Natasha Peterson, Paula Chesley, Lisa Chesley, Brian Chesley, Mariah Chesley, Hannah Jones, Evan Jones, Sophia Jones. 9 great grandchildren.
Brothers and sisters; Leonard (Jeanette) Buttenhoff, Lorraine Fiet, Raymond (Ramona) Buttenhoff, Otto (Virginia) Buttenhoff, Lucille Kraemer, Garland (Ruth) Buttenhoff.
Gladys is preceded in death by her husband, Donald, parents Fred and Alvina Buttenhoff, Brothers and sisters: Ardis Buttenhoff, Edna Beauregard, Lila Chapman, and Melvin Buttenhoff.

There will be a graveside service at 3:30 PM on Friday May 13, 2016 at Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson For Inez, all are invited.

Inez May Langehough was born March 13, 1923 in Rochester, MN and grew up in Lyle, MN where her father was a Lutheran minister and her mother a teacher-author. Inez received a bachelor of science degree in home economics, with a minor in child development from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Shortly thereafter, while working on a master’s degree at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, she met and married Kenneth Tabberson, a student at the veterinary college. After graduation, they began their life together in Gresham, OR, but longed to return to the Midwest where they both called home. They settled in Cokato, MN, where Ken established his successful large and small animal practice. Inez and “Doc” raised two girls, Ruth and Lois in Cokato, and throughout the 32 years as residents of Cokato, Inez was very active in the community where she was elected the first woman on the local Lutheran church board, and the second woman elected to the Cokato school board. In 1984 when Doc retired, they moved to Sun City West, AZ, where Inez continued to share her talents with the local business community, as a sales associate at her son-in-law and daughter’s jewelry store, Anderson Fine Jewelers. In 1988, Ken passed away. In 1993, Inez met and married Selmer Rodning of Sun City, who was also originally from MN. They had 15 very happy years together, traveling, golfing and serving their church, American Lutheran of Sun City, in many leadership capacities. Selmer taught Inez the game of golf when she was 70 years old, and he was such a good teacher that she shot TWO holes-in-one!! Selmer passed away in 2009. Inez was currently living at Desert Winds Independent Living in Peoria, where she made many friends and had many happy times. She is survived by brothers Philip and Milford, daughters Ruth Anderson (Randy) and Lois Gray (Richard) of Denver, CO; 3 grandchildren, Remington Anderson, Amanda Gray, and Sheila Gray Haggard; as well as two great-grandchildren. .

Santema, Sidney John
age 87, of Cokato passed away on April 29, 2016. He was born August 15, 1928 to John and Bertha Santema in Bogus Brook Township of Mille Lacs County, MN. Sidney was baptized as an infant and became a member of Pease Christian Reform Church in 1950. He attended grade school in District 36, grades 1 thru 4 and finished his education in Pease Christian School. Sid was drafted into the United States Army in January of 1950. He was united in marriage to Frances Strating on December 26, 1951, and they made their home in Daleville, Alabama. After being discharged from the Army with the rank of a sergeant, Sid and Fran moved to Milaca, MN in October of 1952. In 1953, he worked as an apprentice butter maker in Pease, MN. They moved to Day, MN in 1956 where Sid managed the Day Creamery and was honored as the states youngest butter maker, receiving many awards. In 1958, they moved to Braham, MN and he managed the Braham Co-op Creamery, and in 1967 moved to Cokato to manage the C & H Ag. Service until retiring in August of 1993. After retiring, Sid worked several years for Terning Seeds Company.
Sid served as a volunteer fireman in Braham and Cokato for a total of 26 years. He was an active member of the Elim Mission Church in Cokato.
Survived by his wife, Fran, children, Michael (Teri) Santema of Inver Grove Heights, MN Sandra (John) Henz of Sauk Rapids, MN and Steven (Merla) Santema of Cokato, grandsons, Patrick Henz and Tim Santema, 2 step-grandsons, Brett Henz and Jon Benson, and brother John of Pease, MN.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Harris, and sister, Alice Mosley.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at Elim Mission Church in Cokato, with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

Genevieve (Jan) Josephine (Fuchs) Derry died peacefully on April 25, 2016 at Assumption Home of Cold Spring, surrounded by her family. Jan was born to Christine and Christian Fuchs on January 12, 1921, in Albany, Minnesota in the middle of a snow storm. After a youth filled with outdoor activities, music, dancing, plays, laughter and the companionship of her sisters and brother, she married the love of her life, Raymond Derry, on June 10, 1944 after a romance that began at the Minnesota State Fair. Jan and Ray had an affinity for the State Fair for the rest of their 57 years together. Jan had many jobs throughout her life, all of them in service to others. Her most memorable and happiest times were as a homemaker and mother of eight children after numerous novenas to St. Jude. Jan was always active in parish life, quilted lap robes, and crocheted thousands of caps, scarves, and mittens for the missions abroad and at home. We are assured of her welcome into the Father’s kingdom.
Jan is preceded in death by: her husband Ray, her parents, brother Peter Fuchs and sister Eileen Terry. She is survived by her children: Eileen and Norman Wallace, Jon Derry, Bob and Mimi Derry, Chuck Derry and Rose Thelen, Tom and Ivy Derry, Kathy and Anthony Hurst, Rae and Greg Nohner, Meg and Kevin Bakke. Grandchildren: Kate Wallace and Nate Dobbs, Liz Wallace and Doug Baumann, Jane Wallace, Charles Wallace; Molly and Brandon Millet, Lewis Derry, Claire Niessen-Derry, Evan Niessen-Derry, Tanya and Andy Haugen, Matt and Lindsey Derry, Phillip Derry, Jason and Katie Derry, Samuel Hurst, Josie Hurst, Karl and Brooke Nohner, Lori Nohner, Erin Bakke and Edward Gallichio, Adam Bakke. 11 great-grandchildren. Her beloved sisters; Lou Atwood, Lorraine Terry, Marion Otterness.

Mass of Christian Burial: 11 AM, Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church at 930 North 31st Avenue St. Cloud, Minnesota
Visitation; 1 hr prior to service at church
Interment Assumption Cemetery of St. Cloud.