Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Duane Matt Smith
Age 86 – Duane died in hospice care at Cokato Manor on May 11, 2014. He was born in Webster, SD on February 7, 1928. He resided in Chanhassen, MN for over 50 years. Duane is survived by his wife Georgia Jean with whom they just celebrated 60 years of marriage. He is also survived by his sons Ron (Cindy) of Akron, 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 St. Louis Park, MN.
Duane was a lifetime member of the VFW in Hopkins, MN. His hobbies included woodworking and drinking Vitamin W. Duane loved clocks of which he made and collected. He will be missed greatly by his family.
A gathering and visitation will take place on Thursday May 15, 2015 at the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, MN. Visitation will be held at 12:00 at celebration of life at 1:00 pm. A luncheon will follow at the American Legion in Howard Lake. Internment will follow at a later date at Ft. Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Merlyn Orville Lutter, age 73, of rural Howard Lake passed away Monday, May 12, 2014, at St. Mary’s Care Center in Winsted.

He was born July 5, 1940, in Middleville Township, the son of Orville and Evelyn (Shepperd) Lutter. Merlyn was baptized July 28, 1940, at St. James Lutheran Church by Eugene N. Seltz. He graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1958. Merlyn was united in marriage to Kathryn Ann Ludwig on August 12, 1961, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus, Nebraska. God blessed their marriage with three daughters.

Merlyn farmed one mile from his parents’ farm for over 40 years. He and his daughters enjoyed participating in horse shows. He served on the AMPI Creamery Board, C & H Ag. Service Board, Central Livestock Shippers Association Board, and was a co-founder of the Wright County Pork Producers. For the last 20 years, he was a member of the Wright County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol, which gave him the opportunity to pursue his passion for horses.

Merlyn served as secretary of St. James Voters’ Assembly, was on the Board of Education, the Board of Trustees, and the Finance Board. He was also a lifelong member of the St. James Choir.

In his retirement, he was able to spend more time following his grandchildren’s activities, having coffee with friends, and attending auctions.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Ruth Hartman, and brothers-in-law Orville Hartman and Ray Aerni. Merlyn is survived by his wife, Kathy; daughters: Lois (Ed) Borner of Lake City, Nancy (Doug) Hasz of Alexandria, and Janet (Dan) Henjum of St. Bonifacius; seven grandchildren; brother Norman (Ardys) of Cheyenne WY; sister Jean Ostgulen of Rochester; sister-in-law Dorothy Aerni of Columbus NE; brother-in-law Jim (Cindy) of Columbus NE; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial Service: 11 AM, Saturday, May 17, 2014 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Visitation: 4-7 PM, Friday, May 16, 2014, with 7 PM prayer at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Howard Lake.

Memorials preferred to St. James Lutheran Church or Wright County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol.

Kenneth Alan Bakke passed away at his home in Cokato on Sunday, May 11, 2014.

Funeral Service: 2PM Saturday, 5/17/2014 at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato

Visitation 4-9 PM Friday at Church, and 1hr prior to service on Saturday at Church

Interment Swedish Mission Cemetery of Buffalo

Berry, Anna Stella
age 94, of Howard Lake went to be with the Lord on May 4, 2014 at the Cokato Manor. She was born June 30, 1919 in Zumbrota, Minnesota to Ludvig and Clara Shelstad. Anna was baptized at Lands Lutheran Church on July 20, 1919 and confirmed November 4, 1934. On June 30, 1943 she was united in marriage to Howard Berry. This marriage was blessed with 3 daughters, Carol, Judy, and Nancy. Anna was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, as well as Augustana Lutheran Church of West St. Paul, where she served the Lord. She was an avid bowler, enjoyed quilting, puzzles, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Anna is survived by her daughters, Carol (Gerry) Smith of Howard Lake, Judy (Mark) Gibis of Eagan, Nancy (Jim) Stello of Watertown, 9 Grandchildren, and 14 Great-Grandchildren. Along with sisters and brothers, and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters, and brothers.
A celebration of life will take place at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake on Friday, May 9, 2014 at 10:00 am with visitation on Thursday, May 8 from 4-8 pm with 6:30 prayer at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake and continuing 1 hour prior to the service at church. Internment to follow services at Corinthian Cemetery in Farmington, MN.

Fred Hermann, age 98, died April 21, 2014, at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. The funeral was Friday, April 25, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato with the Rev. Timothy Wheatley and Chaplain Roger Klinghagen of Emmanuel Home officiating. Music was by Roger Klinghagen and Karen Anderson. Place of interment was the Cokato Finnish Cemetery. Casket bearers were Scott Hultgren, Christopher Hultgren, Chad Hultgren, Bruce Christofferson, Brian Christofferson and Christopher Wagner.
Fredrick John Hermann, son of Johannes and Musine (Andersen) Hermann, was born in Woodbury County near Sioux City, Iowa, on December 13, 1915. He was baptized at the Danish Apostolic Lutheran Church in Sioux City. In March 1930 his family moved to a farm northeast of Cokato. He was confirmed at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato in 1931.
Fred was united in marriage to Mildred E. Korpela of Cokato on December 3, 1943. They were married 18 years when Mildred passed away on March 15, 1962. They farmed near Cokato Lake, and he served in various public offices and local boards of directors.
Fred and Pearl Salmela Hultgren of Minneapolis were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo on July 6, 1963. They resided in Buffalo, at Lake Francis in French Lake Township, in Cokato, and Litchfield. In 1997 they moved to Emmaus Place in Litchfield. Fred had been a resident of the Emmanuel Home since December 2012.
He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Pearl; stepdaughter, Karen (David) Christofferson; stepdaughter-in-law, Judith Hultgren; and their families. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Ellen Kelly, Shirley Smolinski, Rodney Hermann, Robert Hermann, Diane Walter, Jeanette Thompson, Olivia Smith, Lenore Bevis, and David Bylund.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Mildred; sisters, Judith Hammer of Willmar, Emma Bylund of Minneapolis, and Marie Sorensen of Worthington; brothers, Henry Hermann of Cokato and Walter Hermann of Litchfield; stepson, Craig Hultgren; nephews, John Hermann, Paul Sorensen and Herman Sorensen; and great-nephew, Todd Hermann.
Fred was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cokato. He was a Cokato Lodge 134 A.F. & A.M. member for 52 years. Fred worked for 23 years for the Wright County ASCS office at Buffalo in the administration of federal farm programs. After his retirement, he and Pearl spent 17 winters at Alamo, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. In his younger years he was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. He and Pearl traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada and enjoyed a memorable trip to Denmark. Blessed be his memory.
A funeral service will take place on Friday, Aprli 25, 2014 at 2:00 pm at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Internment will immediately follow services at the Cokato Finnish Cemetery.