Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Muonio (Niska), Elsie Lillian
age 70, of Howard Lake passed away on December 29, 2014 following her short battle with bladder cancer. She was born January 28, 1944 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Melvin Sr. and Linda Niska. She graduated from Buffalo High School in 1962. Elsie was united in marriage to Dennis Muonio on July 4, 1964 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This union was blessed with the birth of 11 children. Elsie was a member of The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. She was an exceptional cook, enjoyed gardening, making rugs, sewing, and most of all taking care of her family.
Elsie is survived by her husband, Dennis, children, Mark (Kathy Kjoberg) Muonio of Anoka, MN, Sharon (Donny) Oberg of Maple Grove, MN, David (Cindy) Muonio of Battle Ground, WA, Sarah (Chris) Schanus of Howard Lake, MN, Carl (Brandee) Muonio of Watkins, MN, Linda LaFave of Sauk Rapids, MN, Andrew (Robin) Muonio of Battle Ground, WA, James Muonio of Buffalo, MN, Elaine Muonio of Battle Ground, WA, Cindy (Kent) Kivari of Battle Ground, WA, and 27 grandchildren. Also survived by her siblings, Melvin Jr. (Ester) Niska, Annette (David) Carlson, Lila (Wayne) Schmidt, Edith (Edward) Maki, JC (Gary) Johnson, Leonard (Selina) Niska, Lois Niska, Eunice (John) Burns, and numerous other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, son, Daniel Walter, grandson, Cody LaFave, siblings, Marian Halberg, Charlie Niska, Evelyn Wilen, and Victor Niska.
Funeral Service: Thursday, January 1, 2015, 11:00 AM at The Old Apostolic Lutheran Church (70647 280th Street, Dassel, MN 55325)
Visitation: Wednesday, December 31, 2014, 5-8 PM and continuing 1 hour prior to the service all at the Church.

Mary Linda Hall passed away at Abbott Northwestern Hospital on Christmas Day.
Visitation; 4-8 PM Sunday 12/28/2014 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake
Prayer Service: 7 PM Sunday at the Funeral Home
Memorial Service: 2PM Monday at Oak Heights Covenant Church of Hutchinson

Mary Linda Hall was born on October 13, 1949 at Grand Rapids, Michigan the daughter of Maxwell and Verna (Wright) Larkin. The family soon moved to Litchfield, Minnesota where Mary grew up, until she entered senior high school when the family moved to Minneapolis where she graduated in 1967 from West High School. Mary attended Minneapolis Vocational School studying Hospital Station Secretary. She went on to work at Prudential in Minneapolis for 26 years.

In May of 1968 Mary met Douglas Hall. They were married in June of 1969 at Hobart United Methodist Church of Minneapolis. They made their home in Minneapolis until January of 1976 when they moved to Howard Lake. In August of 2012 Mary and Doug moved to Hutchinson.

Mary and Doug were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake, Mary was very active there and served as Treasurer, elder, Sunday school teacher, youth group, and sang in the choir.

Mary passed away at Abbott Northwestern Hospital of Minneapolis on December 25, 2014. She had reached the age of 65years, 2 months and 12 days. She is survived by her husband Douglas of Hutchinson, sister: Maureen (David) Larkin-Hoover of Howard Lake. Brother-in-law; Jim (Betty) Hesselgrave, Nieces: Wendy Hoover-Carpentier, Ann Hoover, Jill Hoover-Attabury, their children, and niece Amy Hesselgrave, grand niece Ellen Hofstede, and God son Donald (Mary) Osborne. Along with other relatives and many friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Maxwell and Verna Larkin, grand parents, and other relatives

Hillstrom, John Thomas
earthly journey ended on November 30, 2014, at the age of 36. He was born April 26, 1978, in St. Cloud, MN to Charles and Karen (Jarl) Hillstrom. John Graduated from Dassel-Cokato High School in 1996. He furthered his education with an Associates Degree in Social Work and a Bachelors Degree in Economics with an Investment emphasis from the University of North Carolina at Willmington.
John liked to fish, hunt, and spend time in the outdoors. He played hockey and enjoyed good conversation with friends and family. In addition, John had a healthy sense of adventure, which led him and friends to hop a train, taking them out west. Later his travels led him to North Carolina, where he found his love of the ocean and the coastal region.
He is survived by his father Charles (Denise) Hillstrom, sister Anne (Nathan) Bassett, brother Karl Hillstrom, nieces and nephews, Nick, Josh, Erin, Lydia, Eian Bassett, and Hope Nevala, grandparents, Tom and Joyce (Kotila) Jarl. Along with several other family and friends.
John was preceded in death by his mother, Karen, grandparents, Uno and Ruth Hillstrom.
There will be a celebration of John’s life on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church. Visitation will take place from 4-7 pm, along with 4:00 prayer on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato and continue 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

Neal Harju passed away at Cokato Manor on November 28, 2014
Funeral Service: 2PM Wednesday December 3, 2014 at First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel
Visitation: 4-8 PM Tuesday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr prior to service at church on Wednesday
Prayer Service: 7 PM Tuesday at the funeral home
Interment: Cokato Finnish Cemetery

Neal Raphael Harju, was born on December 23, 1931 in Wing, North Dakota, to John Rudolph and Lydia (Matson) Harju. He grew up on the farm in Wing and attended country school. Neal graduated from Bismarck High School in 1950. After high school Neal spent two years in the United States Army and served in Massachusetts, the Carolinas and Germany. While still in the service, Neal met June Lehtinen of Fitchburg, Massachusetts and they were married on March 20, 1954 by Reverend Reino Kallio, in Fitchburg.

After military service Neal and June moved to Cokato, where Neal found work at the Harkman Tire Service. In 1966, Neal and his brother Bill Harju purchased the tire shop from Carl Harkman. Neal retired in 1994.

Neal was a member of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Cokato. He cherished time spent with all of his family and dear christian friends.

Neal passed away at the Cokato Manor on November 28, 2014. He had reached the age of 82 years, 11 months and 5 days.

Survivors include: Wife June of Cokato, Daughters: Joanne (Gary) Chamberlain of Cokato, Linda (Dennis) Samuelson of Cokato and Maria Harju of Howard Lake. Grand children: Tara (Timm) Hagen, Sheila Chamberlain, Erin (Kevin) Parenteau, Jessi (Mike) Hauan, Kelsey Chamberlain, Derrek (Amanda) Harju, Jaden Samuelson. Great grand children: Akadia Hagen, Austin Hagen, Alana Hagen, Noah Parenteau, Jolynn Hauan and Brooke Hauan. Sisters: Eunice (Frank) Korpi of Mountain Iron, MN. And Judy (Arlin) Hogenson of Fairbanks Alaska. Nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Neal was preceded in death by: his parents John Rudolph and Lydia, grandson Brandon Chamberlain, great-granddaughter Aubrey Parenteau, Sisters Lillian Harju, Ellen Bailey, and Martha Bailey. And brothers: Bill, Vernon, Hubert, and Otto.

Funeral Service: 11:30 AM, Monday 12/1/2014, at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato
Visitation: 4-8 PM Sunday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr prior to Funeral Service at Church on Monday
Prayer Service: 7:00 PM Sunday at the funeral home.
Interment: Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery of Cokato