Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Ralph Dale Peterson, age 83, died on April 4, 2014 at his home near Cokato with his family at his side.
Ralph was born on November 19, 1930 to Oscar and Amanda (Henning) Peterson. He attended Mound Elementary and High School, graduating in 1948. He married Joanne Nelson in 1951 at Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church. For the first two years of their marriage, Ralph worked at his father’s farm near Delano, Minnesota.
Ralph served in the United States Army, 1953-55, and was stationed at Fort Meyers in Arlington, Virginia where he was assigned highly classified duties in the Pentagon.
Following an honorable discharge from the Army, Ralph attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Ralph and Joanne lived in Minneapolis where he began a career in grocery store management, until 1964 when they moved to the Nelson family farm north of Cokato.
Along with his business career, Ralph was a lifelong farmer and a DeKalb dealer for several years. He served his community as a member of the Cokato township board from 1979-1994. He also served on the Cokato Business Association, the Solid Waste Management Board, and as chairman of the 1976 Cokato Corn Carnival. Ralph was a member of the church councils at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Ralph is survived by his wife, daughters LaDonna (Scotty) Wylie, Cynthia (Daryl) Pischner, and sons Alan Peterson (special friend Joan Breczinski) and Larry (Kris) Peterson. He is also missed by five grandchildren, Kari (Jeremy) Wylie Johnston, Joshua (Jody) Wylie, Jonathan Pischner, Katie Peterson, and Dean Peterson and four great-grandchildren, Payton and Gracee Johnston and Tanner and Tyler Wylie.
He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Vernie and Irene Nelson, brothers, Lloyd, Earl, and Donald, infant sister Lorraine, sisters-in-law Mabel Peterson, Margaret Peterson, and Maejelle Nelson Nething, and brother-in-law Dean Nelson.
A Funeral Service will take place at 2:00pm on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 from 4-7 pm at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato and continue 1 hour prior to services at the church.
Internment with military honors will follow the service at the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Cokato.

Zinchini, Raymond Joseph
age 67, of Howard Lake, passed away on March 30, 2014 at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, MN following an extended period of heart disease and related conditions. He was born October 1, 1946 in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania to Joseph Zinchini and Mary A. Brocious. Ray grew up in Vandergrift, PA and graduated from Kiski Area High School. Following high school, in 1963 he began his career in telecommunications with Automatic Electric Company. Later, Ray received an intercompany transfer into General Telephone Electronics out of Erie PA, where he continued to work as a COE Installer until his retirement in 1996. Following retirement, Ray contracted with Lambic Telcom out of Florida until 2012.
On November 30, 1968, he was united in marriage to Rosemarie Knapp in Pittsburgh, PA. This union was blessed with 2 sons, Dominic Anthony and Justin Joseph. From 1970-2013 they resided in Titusville, PA, followed by a move by Ray and Rosie to Howard Lake, MN.
Ray was an avid Steelers fan his entire life, while in his early years he enjoyed coaching his sons in baseball and continued to coach little league after they had moved on. For 5 years, Ray and his family where active in BMX racing, allowing them to spend precious time together in their local community and throughout New York and Canada. The boys where awarded countless trophies, which allowed them to sponsor several races. Until recently he was active in the BPOE Elks. Ray enjoyed spending time with his abundance of friends, particularly while “fishing.”
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, and grandparents, Margaret and William Crow, uncles William (Anna Martha) Troutner, Joseph Troutner, and sister Kathy.
He is survived by, his wife Rosie of 45 years, sons, Dominic (Tiffani) of Dassel, MN, Justin (Carrissa) of Erie PA, grandchildren who brightened his life and gave him purpose, Stella Rose and Henry Keegan, brother, Vern (Nancy) Brocious of Vandergrift, PA, sister Diane, along with other relatives, Jacob and Kelly Brocious, aunt Kathryn Troutner, and many cousins. Extended family includes so many from Codgers Cove of Howard Lake, who gave Ray the true meaning of friendship. Extended even further from Titusville, PA would include Betty Wallace, Betty Barlog, Margaret Lamenski, Gary (Mary Alice) Crawford, John (Ronnie) Miller and family, Garry Gates, Greg Kunz, and Father Walter Packard of the Catholic community of Titusville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Raymond’s grandchildren’s education fund.
Memorial service, 11:00 am., Friday, April 11, 2014 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with visitation 1 hour prior to service at the church. Services will continue at a later date in Titusville, PA.

Linda Rae McCurdy of Howard Lake passed away at the Waconia Hospital on March 24, 2014.

Funeral Service 2:00 PM Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Mt Hermon Lutheran Church 1284 Keats Avenue NW. Annandale Minnesota.
Visitation 4-8PM Wednesday 3/26/2014 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake

Linda Rae (Westphal) McCurdy was born at Hutchinson Hospital on July 4, 1947, to Raymond and Helen (Anderson) Westphal. She was baptized in the hospital because of breathing problems. She was later baptized at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake. At the age of 10 Linda was diagnosed with diabetes. She attended St. James Parochial School in Howard Lake where she was confirmed in her faith. She graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1965. After high school she attended the Minnesota School of Business.

During her career she worked at Schwartz Manufacturing, Dale Johnson CPA in Buffalo, Security State Bank in Howard Lake and finally Dura Supreme until her retirement in 2009.

On September 1, 1974, she was united in marriage to Wallace McCurdy. During their 39 years of marriage they made many trips to the Black Hills, a place she loved to visit. Because she had no children of her own, she thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her nephews and great nephews.

She will be remembered by family and friends as a woman who loved to laugh and go shopping. She loved gardening; picking vegetables and planting flowers. She enjoyed taking care of small animals and through the years raised chickens, pigeons, turkeys, pigmy goats and of coarse dogs.

Following a long illness, Linda was called to her eternal rest on Monday, March 24, 2014 at the Waconia Hospital. She had reached the age of 66 years, 8 months and 20 days.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Helen Westphal. Her passing is mourned by her sorrowing husband Wallace McCurdy, step daughter Wendy (Travis) Cole of Detroit Lakes and their 5 children. Sister Terry and husband Eugene Lorentz. Nephews; Jeffrey (Amy) Lorentz of Clearwater, Anthony (Angela) Lorentz of E. Grand Forks, Patrick (Angie) Lorentz of Dassel and great nephews: Jacob, Jordan, Jackson, Wyatt, and Brady Lorentz.

Visitation: 4-8 PM Wednesday March 26, 2014 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake.

Cecilia Theresa Schmitz was born October 15, 1923 in Nashua, Minnesota to Jacob and Margaret Schauff. She grew up in the Tintah, MN area and then attended Moorhead Teachers College and was a country school teacher for several years. She married Vincent Schmitz June 10th, 1946. They made their home in the Howard Lake area. She was active with the local VFW, Church of St. Mary, numerous other groups. Born with a great sense of humor and intelligence she always had a kind word for everyone. Family, friends and strangers were always welcome at her home. Cecilia passed away March 20, 2014 with family by her side at Cokato Manor in Cokato, MN. She lived at Cokato Manor her last years and enjoyed the residents, staff and playing cards with anyone who was up for a game. She reached the age of 90 years, five months and five days. She is survived by children; Mike (Jean) of Cokato, Terry (Georgi) of Dayton, John (Sharon) of Annandale, Paul (Agnes) of Maple Lake, Charles (Melanie) of Howard Lake, Jerome (Jane) of Maple Grove, Francis (Mary) of Buffalo, Mary (Eugene) Amborn of Cokato, George of Chiefland, FL, Ann of Chiefland, FL, 23 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
Cecilia was preceded in death by husband Vince, son Carl and grandchildren Chad and Theresa Schmitz. Instead of flowers gifts of memorial are preferred to the Church of St. Mary or the VFW.
Mass of Christian burial was held at 10:30 am on Monday, March 24, 2014 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly, MN. Visitation was held on Sunday, March 23 from 3-8 pm with 7:30 prayer and continued 1 hour prior to the service all at the church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Marie Komula, age 94, of Cokato, passed away peacefully, with her son and daughter-in-law at her side, at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield the evening of Feb. 27, 2014.
Marie was born at the Cokato Hospital on May 27, 1919, to John M. and Minnie E. Rhodin. She was named “Marie” because her uncle, Carl Haggberg, just back from serving in World War I, said: “All the girls in France are named Marie.”
Marie grew up on the Rhodin family farm northeast of town, attended country school, and graduated from Cokato High School in 1937. She completed her teacher’s training education in Hutchinson.
Marie entertained the idea of becoming a teacher from an early age. Her younger sister, Lyla, recalled many hours of playing “school” with Marie when they were both youngsters—complete with Lyla having to finish dozens and dozens of arithmetic problems that Marie had prepared for her even after the play sessions were over!
All in all, Marie spent almost 50 years as a school teacher in Wright County. About half those years were spent in one-room country schools, and the other half she spent as a teacher’s aide, specializing in reading, in the Howard Lake and Dassel-Cokato systems after the country schools were all consolidated in 1971. Besides her regular teaching duties, Marie was famous for her country school Christmas programs, which many said were the best in the area.
During World War II, Marie and her close, high-school friend, Ellen Niemela, headed to Los Angeles to find work. Marie worked a number of secretarial jobs while in California, and met her future husband, Toivo Komula, there after the war. They were married in 1948 and came back to live in her hometown.
Marie taught school well into her seventies. After retiring, she built up an impressive doll collection, honed her gardening skills, and thoroughly enjoyed going to—and putting on—garage sales. She was expert at being able to sell almost anything at her garage sales, including recently sprouted maple trees that she dug from her yard, potted and sold for 50 cents each.
Marie spent her later years in the assisted living facility at Brookridge in Cokato, still going to garage sales, tending her potted plants, and reading—always reading!
Marie was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband Toivo. She is survived by her sister, Lyla Lutter, son and daughter-in-law, Steve Komula and Gayle Whitney, and several nieces and nephews, as well as numerous friends and hundreds of former students—some of whom kept in touch with her for many decades.
A memorial service for Marie will take place in the chapel at Cokato Manor at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 15, with Rev. Tim Wheatley officiating. Lunch will be provided in the Activities Room following the service.