Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Funeral Service: 2:00 PM Saturday, June 23, at First Baptist Church of Cokato

Visitation: 3-8 PM Friday at First Baptist Church of Cokato

Prayer service 7 PM Friday at church

Interment: North Crow River Lutheran Cemetery

Russell Albert Johnson, age 83, of Cokato,
passed away Tuesday June 19, 2012
at Cokato Manor Nursing Home. Russ, the son of Albert and Martha Johnson, was
born April 11, 1929 at the
Johnson family homestead in French Lake
Township north of Cokato. He grew up
in the Cokato area, attended Birch Lake
country school and graduated from Cokato
High School in 1947. Russ was
baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and was a lifetime member of the North
Crow River Lutheran
Church. Russ was united in marriage
to the love of his life, Betty Jean Olean, on May 13, 1950 at St. John’s
Lutheran Church
in Annandale. He farmed 300 rented
acres until entering the US Army in 1953. After his discharge in 1955, Russ and
Betty purchased the family homestead where he farmed and worked as an
apprentice electrician. In 1961 he was appointed by US
Secretary of Agriculture, Orville Freeman to serve on the Minnesota Agriculture
and Stabilization and Conservation Committee (A.S.C.). As Minnesota State
Committeeman he was one of three in charge of federal agriculture programs, and
served in that capacity for eight years. Russ enjoyed his years in agriculture
and had the opportunity to travel throughout Minnesota
and made several trips to Washington DC.
He met and worked with many people including his good friends Hubert Humphrey
and Bob Bergland (who later became the US
Secretary of Agriculture). He had the opportunity to meet President Kennedy in
a White House Rose Garden ceremony and attended the 1966 All-Star game in St.
Louis with Vice President Humphrey where he recounted
his experiences with the Secret Service. After being offered a transfer to Washington
DC in 1969, the family decided to remain in
Cokato where Russ started an electrical contracting business, which he operated
until 2010.

Russ had a passion for education and was elected to the Dassel-Cokato
School Board in 1973 and served for 26 years. Having served on the Board that
developed the Character Building Pillars, upon his retirement Russ was honored
by the establishment of the Russell A. Johnson Courtesy and Respect Award which
is given monthly to a student who has demonstrated good character.

Russ loved his family dearly and often repeated his belief that “the
most important gift a father can give his children is to love their mother and
show it”. He joked that he hadn’t gotten far in life, as he lived for most
of his life in the same house where he was born, but pointed out that he had
been to a lot of places in between.

Left to cherish Russ’ memory are his wife Betty of Cokato, and children
Debra (Neal) Wahlman of Plymouth, Marion (Phil) Lee of Cokato, Randy (Lynda)
Johnson of Cokato, and Teri (Jim) Johnson of Big Lake, grandchildren Jon
(Jenny) Lee, Bengt (Emily) Lee, Noah (Laura) Lee, Annalicia (Phil) Niemala, Grant
Johnson, Zachary Johnson, Calab Johnson, Brianna Johnson, Kate Johnson, Jeremy
(Mary) Wahlman-Krogh and Jason (Kristi) Wahlman, six great grandchildren,
sister LaVerne (Orville) Peterson and many relatives and friends. Russ was
preceded in death by his parents Albert and Martha, brother Donald, infant
brother Stanley and infant son Mark.

Memorial service: 11:00 AM Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at First Baptist Church of Cokato

Lyndon Lane Sheplee was born in Winnebago, Minnesota
on November 20, 1947, to
Kenneth and Elva (Lane) Sheplee.  He grew
up in Huntley, Minnesota
and graduated from Huntley High
School.  He
went on to Mankato State College and graduated with a degree in Education.
Lyndon taught school in Northome, Minnesota
for three years before going on to Brown Institute to receive a degree in Radio
Broadcasting.

Lyndon pursued a career in sports broadcasting, working in several
locations including Cape Girardeau, MO,
Hutchinson and Buffalo,
Minnesota.
He has lived the past 20 years in Cokato.

Lyndon enjoyed sports of all kinds; he had an amazing memory
for sports statistics. He also enjoyed reading, politics, history and current
events..  Family was especially important
to Lyndon.

Lyndon passed away suddenly in a motorcycle accident in French
Lake Township,
on June 14, 2012.  He had reached the age of 64 years, 6 months
and 24 days.

Survivors include his brothers: Ardie (Fran) of Red Wing and
Merv (Barbara) of New Prague.  Sister
Anita (Curt) Sanborn of Cokato and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Elva
Sheplee.

Memorial Service: 11 AM,
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at
First Baptist
Church of Cokato.

Interment: Verona Township Cemetery, Winnebago, Minnesota.

Susan Lavon Larson, age 61 of St. Michael, MN. passed away on June 13, 2012 after a valiant fight against brain cancer. She was born January 6, 1951 in St. Cloud, MN. to Gordon and Ellen (Sikkila) Anderson. Susan attended Happy Corner Elementary school through the 7^th grade, and continued her education at Cokato High School, graduating in 1969. She obtained a degree from Methodist Hospital School of Xray in 1971 and was united in marriage to Jerry Larson at North Crow River Lutheran Church that same year. Susan worked as an x-ray technician at Methodist Hospital, at Drs. Davis & Littmann and at Wayzata Orthopedics over a span of 40 years. She enjoyed designing cards, scrap-booking, counted cross stitch, reading and spending time with family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her father: Gordon M. Anderson. She is survived by her son: Joshua Larson, of South Haven, mother: Ellen Anderson, of Cokato, brother: Allan (Nancy) Anderson of South Haven, nephews: Ben (Becky) Anderson of Chisago City and Brendon (Becky) Anderson of Bloomington, niece: Brianna (Chevis) Nelson of Richfield, great-niece: Jazlyn Anderson, great-nephew: Levi Nelson, many relatives and many, many friends.

Visitation: Fri. 6/22, 5:30-7:30pm at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato 320-286-2534.

Memorial service: Sat. 6/23, 11am at Grace Luth. Church, 17225 30^th st. NW, South Haven, MN. 55382.

Anderson, Darlene J.

age 69, of Howard Lake, MN. formerly of Spring Lake Park, MN. passed away June 4, 2012. Preceded in death by husband, Jerry. Survived by son: Todd (Jessie), grandchildren: Sarah (Andrew) Sullivan, and Christina Anderson, great-grandchildren: Rylea and Trent Sullivan. Funeral service: Thur. 6/7 10:30 am with visitation beginning at 9 am all at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake (320)543-3401. Internment to follow, 3:30pm at Foster Cemetery near Wahkon, MN.

Floyd Beryl Munson 97, of Howard Lake, passed away at Howard Lake Good Samaritan Ctr. 5/22/2012. Survived by children, Beryl (Carolyn) Munson, Medina, Cleo (Robert) Friederichsen, Buffalo, Robert (LouAnn) Munson, Howard Lake, Mary Beth ( Dennis) Reiners, Mitchell, SD, Kristen (Joel) Pettit, Howard Lake, Ray (Patricia) Munson, Waverly; 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren; sister, Valoris Ferrell; sisters-in-law, Jean Bowen of Glenwood, Shirley Westphal of Howard Lake, and Verna (Maurice) Kellander of Granada. Proceeded in death by wife of 75 years, Lillian. Funeral service 11 am Saturday, 5/26 at First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake. Visitation 4-8 pm Friday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake and 1 hr prior to service at church on Saturday. Prayer service 7:00 pm Friday. Interment Howard Lake Cemetery.

Floyd Beryl Munson, age 97, of Howard Lake, Minnesota, went to be with his Lord
and Savior May 22, 2012 at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center.  Floyd was
born September 13, 1914 on a farm near Buttzville, ND to Ray E. and Eunice
(Rustad) Munson.  His family lived briefly in the North Dakota towns of Plaza
and Sanish before moving to Glenwood, MN when Floyd was six years old.  Floyd
graduated from Glenwood High School and on August 15, 1934 was united in
marriage to Lillian Bowen in Dassel, MN.  The couple settled in Howard Lake,
where Floyd and his father founded the Munson Feed Company in 1935.  At about
this same time Floyd started a band; Floyd Munson and His Orchestra, which
included his brothers, Eddie and Vernon.

Floyd was involved in many
community activities in Howard Lake.  He was a volunteer fireman and a bank
director, as well as a member of the school board, the Sportsmen’s Club and the
Howard Lake Businessmen’s Association.  He was a longtime member of First
Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake, where he served as elder, trustee, Sunday
School superintendent and teacher.  He was also a faithful member of the church
choir.

Floyd was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, camping
and traveling.  He was a master woodworker, making beautiful creations for his
family and friends.  One of the highlights of his life was making a wooden cross
for a youth in each of the 50 states.  Music was a big part of Floyd’s life.  He
enjoyed playing accordion for his grandchildren and led the weekly Sing-A-Long
at the Care Center for many years.

Floyd is survived by his children;
Beryl (Carolyn) Munson, Medina, Cleo (Robert) Friederichsen, Buffalo, Robert
(Lou Ann) Munson, Howard Lake, Mary (Dennis) Reiners, Mitchell, SD, Kristen
(Joel) Pettit, Howard Lake, Ray (Patricia) Munson, Waverly.  Grandchildren; Mark
Friederichsen, Carla (John) Hausladen, Stephen (Lisa) Friederichsen, Philip
(Jodi) Munson, Paul (Elisabeth) Munson, Karen (Sam) Mammano, Eric (Margaret)
Munson, Vanessa Brandt, Amy (Dan) Yager, Jennifer Larson, William (Lisa) Munson,
Deborah (Justin) Badini, Valerie (Nathan) Johnson, Jessica Munson, David (Leah)
Pettit and twenty-six great grandchildren.  He is further survived by his
sister, Valoris Ferrell, Albuquerque, NM, sisters-in-law Jean Bowen, Glenwood,
Shirley Westphal, Howard Lake and Verna (Maurice) Kellander of Granada, nephews,
nieces and many friends.  Floyd was preceded in death by his wife of 75 years,
Lillian, parents Ray E. and Eunice and brothers, Eddie and
Vernon.

Funeral services took place Saturday, May 26 at First
Presbyterian Church in Howard Lake with interment at the Howard Lake Cemetery.
Officiating were Reverends Ken Ribe and Dwight Chamberlain.  Visitation took
place Friday, May 25 at the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake.