Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Ray Duaine Ristow, age 76, of Howard Lake, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.

Ray was born on March 19, 1939 in Hopkins, MN to William and Bertie Ristow.

Ray was united in marriage to Gayle Birkholz on December 21, 1962. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters; Connie and Bonnie. They made their home for many years southwest of Howard Lake before moving into town. Ray worked at various jobs throughout his life and retired from the Howard Lake – Waverly School in 2002.

Ray enjoyed his time on their hobby farm where he raised a variety of animals. He had a passion for horses and was very proud to say he once owned a team of Belgians. In his younger years Ray was well known for buying and selling cars. Ray also enjoyed visiting with family, friends and neighbors. Ray found great joy in spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ray is survived by his loving wife Gayle; daughter Connie (Daniel) Ruzicka of Lester Prairie; daughter Bonnie (Jim) Bistodeau of Cokato; grandchildren Tanya (Cody), Tamara (Skyler), Sara (Eric) Eiden, Trace, Jennifer, and Tommy; great grandchildren Alexander, Chloe, Alexa, and Matthew.

He was preceded in death by his parent, William and Bertie Ristow; brother Jess Ristow; sister Donna Kachel; and sister Wanda Randt.

There will be a visitation for Ray from 5-7PM Friday January 8, 2016 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, and a prayer service at 6:30 PM.

Jarvi, Reino “Ed” Edmund
age 94, of Cokato passed away on Jan. 2, 2016 at the Annandale Care Center. He was born on June 4, 1921 to Anton and Fannie (Kovala) Jarvi at home in Cokato. Ed was a very proud World War II veteran where he served in European campaigns under General Patton. He was a lifetime member of the VFW. Ed enjoyed snowmobiling and loved to fish, building several fish houses. Most of all, he was a great family man who would help without ever complaining.
Ed is survived by his brother, Raymond (Mary) Jarvi, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, along with special friend Audrey Nelson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Walter, Paul, and Willard, and sisters, Elma, Martha, and Verna.
A special thank you to the Annandale Care Center for the many years of wonderful care they provided to Ed.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Sat., Jan. 9, 2016 with visitation 1 hour prior at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Wilmer passed away at the Glencoe Regional Health Care Center on January 1, 2016.
Memorial Service: 2PM Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Elim Mission Church of Cokato
Visitation will begin 1hr prior to the service.
Spring interment will be at the Cokato City Cemetery.

Wilmer Hoyhtya was born on September 15, 1928, at Rock Lake, North Dakota to Andrew and Deckla (Johnson) Hoyhtya, the last of 12 children. He grew up in Sebeka, Minnesota and was baptized as an adult.
On November 15, 1954 Wilmer married Josephine Ann Kingstedt at Big Fork, Minnesota, and had five children. Wilmer worked on farms, as a trucker, and for well drillers until going into his own well drilling business in 1967. The family moved to Cokato in 1968. Wilmer retired from the well business in 1984 but continued to run his hobby farm, milking cows until 1997. He was a very hard worker, always providing for his family. He enjoyed having horses and made pony carts. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Wilmer passed away after complications following hip surgery on January 1, 2016, at the Glencoe Regional Health Care Center. He had reached the age of 87 years, 3 months and 16 days. Survivors include his children: David (Kathy) Hoyhtya of Cokato, Kathy (Keith) Herrmann of Glencoe, and Kenneth (Sheri) Hoyhtya of Cokato. Also survived by daughter-in-law Jennie Hoyhtya of Arizona and grandchildren Stephanie (Greg) Morrison, Crystal (Bjorn) Bakke, Luke Hoyhtya, Adam (Jennifer) Johnson, Jennifer (Derrick) Todnem, Samantha (Aaron) Peterson, and Kaycie Kellogg. Great-grandchildren: Mason, Evan, Aunnalise, Erica, Sydney, Isabelle, Spencer, Julia, Ethan, Noah, Kylan, Baylynn, Makenna, and Kaden. Sister; Elvi Kinnunen, brother-in-law Owen (Lois) Kingstedt and Sisters-in-laws; Hazel Hoyhtya and Gerri Kingstedt.
Wilmer was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Deckla, wife Josephine, sons; John and Steven, and 10 brothers and sisters.

Good, Audrey Loy
age 82, of Cokato passed away on December 31, 2015. Audrey Loy (Haarstick) Good was born May 27, 1933 on the farm in Cokato, Minnesota to Herman and Othelia (Peterson) Haarstick. On September 18, 1965 she married James Harvey Good of Trail, Minnesota at her parent’s home in Cokato. They had two children, a son, Dale and a daughter, Wendy and resided in various towns. Audrey was a life member of North Crow River Church and a member of The Cokato Senior Citizens, which her parents help start.
She is survived by her daughter, Wendy and her husband Greg, and their two sons, Nathan (Brittany) and Brandon Johnson of Cokato, daughter in-law, Kim and her two children, Jesse and Jordan Good of Hutchinson, a great-granddaughter, Olivia Good of Cokato, and a brother, Keith (Ardyce) Haarstick of St. Cloud, MN, along with many nieces and nephews.
Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, husband, James, and son, Dale Good.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 2 PM at North Crow River Lutheran Church in Knapp, MN. Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 5-8 PM with 7:30 PM prayer and continue 1 hr prior to the service on Wednesday all at the church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Wyman August Nelson died on Monday, December 28, 2015 in Cokato. Wyman was born on September 26, 1928 at home in Cokato Township to Albert William Nelson and Amanda Sophia (Hanno) Nelson. He grew up in Cokato, was confirmed at the Cokato Apostolic Lutheran Church, and graduated from Cokato High School in 1946. After serving in the United States Navy, he attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota. He then graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.

On August 2, 1950 he married Ramona Jean Bergstrom in Cokato, Minnesota. To this marriage, were born Michel Wyman Nelson, Mark David Nelson, and Wade Thomas Nelson and they later adopted Rhonda Lee Nelson. They also hosted Paa Kwesi Nduom of Ghana as an exchange student and always thought of him as another son. Following Ramona’s death in 2002 after 52 years of marriage, Wyman married Gloria Schramm – he was blessed to be lucky in love twice.

Following graduation from law school, Wyman worked for the legal department at St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (now Travelers) in St. Paul and Omaha, Nebraska. He then started a private law practice with Mark Sullivan and Robert Schieffelbein in Minneapolis. After the appointment of Clifford Olson as a judge in Wright County, local bank presidents C.E. Mitchell and Richard Peterson approached Wyman about moving to Cokato and establishing a law practice there because Cokato no longer had a lawyer. He agreed and the family moved to Cokato in 1961. Wyman maintained a private law practice up and until 1990 when he became the Wright County attorney full-time. He previously served in that capacity on a part-time basis. He retired in 1998 at age 70.

Wyman was a long-time member of the Cokato school board, serving during the time that country schools were consolidated and later during the lead up to the merger with Dassel schools. He was instrumental in the creation of Cokato Charitable Trust which owns and operates the Cokato nursing home and assisted living facilities. He and Ramona were long time members of the Cokato First Baptist Church. He was an Eagle Scout and served as Scoutmaster of the Cokato Troop as an adult. Wyman was proud of his Finnish heritage and connection as the great-great grandson of Lars Levi Laestadius. It was a ritual for Wyman to bring viili (made from the original yogurt culture that accompanied the Greku family when they emigrated from Finland) to the courthouse staff in Buffalo on St. Urho’s Day.

Wyman was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ramona; brothers Lyle and Earl; and, sisters Erna Blatt and Ruth Roberson. He is survived by wife Gloria; sister Lavona (Kayo) Dokken; son Michel (Rebecca) and granddaughters Jennifer and Anika; son Mark (Mona) and grandchildren Anna, Samuel, Manda (Bryan) DiDonato, Kristina and Paul (Kate); son Wade; daughter Rhonda (Jeff) Menken and grand children James (Rosella) Jorgenson, Riana (Kyle) Klaustermeier, Ricky Nelson, Chance Menken, and Chase Menken. He is also survived by several great-grandchildren children and Gloria’s three daughters, Jo Ellen Axness, Beth Schramm, and Sarah Schramm.

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Cokato on Saturday, January 2nd at 2:00 o’clock p.m. Visitation will take place on Friday, January 1st at the Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Memorials preferred to Cokato Historical Society or Alzheimer’s Association.