Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Lauzer, George Willard Frank,
age 85, of Howard Lake, MN, passed away on Wednedsday, February 12, 2014 at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Care Center. George was born August 2, 1928 in Watertown, MN to Theodore and Hilia Lauzer. He grew up on the family farm in Waverly. George was baptized and confirmed at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. In 1945, he was married to Lorraine Drawert. This union was blessed with eight children. George farmed the family farm with his brother until 1970, at which time he moved to howard lake and continued his career at Millerbrand Manufacturing. He was able to retire at age 62, in order to pursue his passion of being a full time wood worker.
George is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lorraine, children, Michael Lauzer, Sharon Hecksel, Dennis (Patricia) Lauzer, LuAnn (Robert) Ryks, James (Renee) Lauzer, David (Kelly) Lauzer, Cheryl (Lee) Hamilton, sister-in-law, Fran Lauzer, 23 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, infant son, Richard, brother, Norman, and grandson, Joshua Lauzer.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 2:00 pm at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Visitation was held 1 hour prior to the service at church.

Diane passed away at Dassel Lakeside Nursing Home on 2/12/2014.
Memorial Service: 4PM Saturday, February 15, at Church of Christ, Dassel, Minnesota
Visitation: 2-4 pm on Saturday at church

Diane Marie (Kaskinen) Taraldson was born on March 28, 1951, in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Charles and Lorraine (Olson) Kaskinen. She grew up in French Lake and graduated from Kimball High School in 1969.

Diane Married Shawn Taraldson on March 28, 1978. They made their home in Cokato. Diane worked as a secretary for a local law office and as a nurses aide at the Lakeside Care Center of Dassel where she enjoyed helping the elderly.

Her hobbies included: antiquing, quilting and embroidering. She enjoyed planting flowers and having many indoor plants. Her dogs brought her much joy. When she wasn’t working she enjoyed spending time visiting with friends, family and residents at the nursing home.

Diane Marie Taraldson passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at the Dassel Lakeside Care center. She had reached the age of 62 years, 10 months and 14 days.

Survivors include: husband Shawn of Cokato, son Tom (Sue) Hedlund of Dassel, Mother and step father Lorraine (Marshall) Werner of South Haven, brothers Dean (Myrna) Kaskinen of Kimball, Duane Kaskinen of Lincoln, Nebraska, Rollie (Mary) Werner of Annandale, Randy (Kim) Werner of South Haven, and Many Nieces and Nephews.

Diane is preceded in death by: her father Charles (Bill) Kaskinen and her grandparents.

Diers, Evelyne M.
age 76, of Howard Lake, MN passed away Sunday, February 9, 2014 at the St. Mary’s Care Center in Winsted, MN. She was born May 23, 1937 in Winsted to Charles and Elsie (Urbach) Griswold. Evelyne was baptized and confirmed in the Prebyterian Church, Winsted. It was here that Evelyne was united in marriage to Gene Diers by Reverend A.J. Kamman on May 12, 1956. This union was blessed with the birth of two daughters: Robin Kotila and Connie Brandel, both of Cokato, MN. Evelyne and Gene made their home on the family farm in Victor Township, Howard Lake, MN. In addition to the time she spent working on the farm, Evelyne enjoyed gardening and cooking. Evelyne also worked for the many years at the Super Value Store in Howard Lake. She enjoyed getting to know many people and valued their special friendships. Following the sale of the farm, Evelyne moved to town, where she was able to reside up until 3 weeks prior to her passing.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother, Albert Griswold.
Survived by her children, Robin (Harlan) Kotila and Connie (Allen) Brandel, grandchildren, Brian (Michelle) Kotila, of Mankato, Kaley Oestreich, of Buffalo, Kandra Oestriech (fiance Brandon Lundstrom), of Duluth, and great-grandson, Liam Kotila.
A funeral service was held on Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 2:00 pm at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. Visitation was held at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 from 4-7 pm and continued 1 hour prior to the service at church. Internment followed services at St. James Lutheran Cemetery on Dutch Lake.

Memorial service: 2PM Friday, February 14, 2014 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake
Visitation: 12-2 PM Friday at the Fuenral Home
Interment: Howard Lake Cemetery in the spring

Rachel Marian Custer was born on March 6, 1932 in Winsted, Minnesota to Joseph and Corinne (Marks) Zimmermann. Rachel graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1951. On July 5, 1953 Rachel married John Custer at the First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake. God blessed their marriage with a son; Mark.

Rachel and John operated the Custer’s Super Valu in Howard Lake from 1960-1988. Rachel was very involved in the community and enjoyed volunteering at church and as a member of the Howard Lake Fire Department Auxiliary, and American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed: traveling, entertaining, reading, and listening to old time music. She and John spent 17 winters in Hawaii and made many friends there. Most of all she loved her family. She relished her grandchildren from the years of toddler tea parties until they were grown. She enjoyed spending time with her sisters and her friends.

Rachel passed away at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center on February 7, 2014. She had reached the age of 81 years 11 months and 1 day.

Survivors include: her husband John, son Mark (Lori) Custer of Howard Lake, Four grandchildren: Christine Fetterley, Amy (Michael) Noll, Beth (Andrei) Stolyarchuk, and Jill Custer. Two great grandchildren: Lily Noll and Maddox Noll. Two sisters; Marjorie (Clayton) Helinske, Yvonne Urban. Three brothers: Loren (Charlotte) Zimmermann, Gordon (Gloria) Zimmermann, and Clifford (Linda) Zimmermann. Sister-in-law Marlene Zimmermann. Nieces nephews other relatives and friends.

Rachel was preceded in death by: her parents, brother Kenneth, sister Laura Mae, brother-in-law Ted Urban, father-in-law James Custer and mother-in-law Alice Custer.

Virgil Morris passed away after a brief stay at Cokato Manor on February 3, 2014.
Funeral Service; 2:00 PM Saturday, February 8, 2014, at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church of Cokato
Visitation 4-8 PM Friday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato and 1hr prior to services at Church on Saturday
Prayer Service; 7 PM Friday evening
Interment: Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery of Cokato

Virgil Victor Morris was born June 12, 1923, to Victor and Lillian (Anderson) Morris in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The family moved to Cokato, where they had originated, in 1925 to take up farming. Virgil attended the Watson School, a one room country school, and Cokato High School, from which he graduated in 1940. The Morrises were members of Evangelical Lutheran Church, which their ancestors had attended since 1869 when they arrived in the Cokato area. Virgil was a dedicated church member; for one seven year stretch he had perfect Sunday School attendance, even though the family lived several miles out in the country.
After high school, Virgil worked for one year as a bank cashier in Prinsburg, MN, and then farmed and worked for Northland Canning in Cokato until 1945, when he joined American Can Company. He was subsequently drafted into the army and served at Ft Lewis in Tacoma, WA. He married Alta Mae Ring of Cokato on May 9, 1946, and the two lived together at first in Washington. Upon his discharge in 1947, he returned to American Can, moving to company headquarters in Waukegan IL. The Morrises were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Waukegan throughout their residence in Illinois.
The Morris’ first daughter, Phyllis, was born in 1950, and their second daughter, Joann, was born in 1954. Tragically, Joann died of meningitis in 1959.
Virgil was transferred to an upper Midwest territory by American Can in 1968 to service the company’s largest customer, Hormel, and the family moved to Austin MN, with membership in Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Virgil retired in 1981 after 36 years of service to American Can and fulfilled his dream by moving to Cokato, his family’s native home. The Morrises rejoined Evangelical Lutheran Church. They joined to Good Shepard Lutheran Church in 2010.
Virgil was very active in retirement in Cokato. He volunteered for Wright County Human Services by driving clients to clinics and hospitals, most often in Minneapolis. His driving service lasted for 27 years, ending when he was 87 years old. He was on the board of the Cokato Historical Museum for 11 years and assisted Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home for 18 years. He was also active in service to Evangelical Lutheran Church. Virgil’s main hobby was woodworking and notably he made five grandfather clocks and other fine furniture. He also traveled widely, including Sweden (the Morris family ancestral home), Norway, Denmark, England, China, Kenya, and the Holy Land.
Virgil Morris was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Lillian Morris, and his daughter Joann. He is survived by his wife, Alta Mae, his daughter, Phyllis (Teryl) Frey, of Atlanta GA, one grandson, Benjamin Frey, and his sister, Dorothy Koester of St. Louis Park MN.