Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Funeral Service for Esther Leona Beckala of Cokato will be at 11AM on Monday October 15, at the 1st Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel.

Visitation: 4-8 PM Sunday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato

Prayrer Service: 7 PM on Sunday at the fuernal home.

Esther Beckala was born in Corona,
South Dakota, on September 6, 1910.
She was three years old when they moved to Summit,
South Dakota.  When Esther was nine, the family moved to Milaca,
Minnesota.
They moved to Cokato in 1923 when Esther was thirteen.  She attended Riverside
School which later was re-named Melquist
School where she finished eighth
grade.

She met and married Rognar Beckala also of Cokato, in
1932.  Two children were born to this
union, son Vernon and daughter
Phyllis.  They farmed north of Cokato for
most of their life.  In 1967 they moved
to town.

Esther was a 4-H leader for many years, belonged to Home
Extension and also the Order of the Eastern Star.  Esther worked at Green Giant for a number of
years and Richwell Furniture until retirement.
Esther and her husband spent ten summers north of Park Rapids.  She was a very hard worker and was the
“queen” of recyclers before recycling ever came into existence.  Esther made many miles of rag rugs.  She pounded the loom for over 70 years.  The most favorite being made of denim.  Her rugs went to many parts of the
world.  The shuttles on the loom have now
been stilled.  She was an avid Minnesota
Twins fan, never missed a game on the radio.

Esther passed away at Dassel
Lakeside Care Center
on October 11, 1912.  She had reached the age of 102 years 1 month
and 5 days.  She is preceded in death by
her husband Rognar and daughter Phyllis Davidson, son-in-law Dale, her parents;
Otto and Minnie Evers and Brothers Ernest and Carl Evers, sisters-in-law Elvira
and Mary Lou Evers.  Brothers-in-law;
James Haapala, Donald Skoog and Daniel Ceske.

Esther is survived by son Vernon and his wife Jeanette:
seven grandchildren: Debi (Tom) Menard and Chad (Denise) Beckala of Cokato,
Kent (Robin) Davidson of Annandale, Kelly (Shelly) Davidson of St. Cloud,
Dawnine Beckala and Stacy (Michael) Blackmun of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and
Jamie (Denise) Beckala of Toddville, Iowa.
Ten great-great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.  Further survived by sisters, Mildred
Happala  of Cokato and Pearl Ceske of
Hutchinson.

A service of Christian Burial took place on Monday, October 15, 2012 at the
First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Dassel, with Pastor Mark Koivisto
officiating.  Diane Grangroth was the
organist.  Interment was in the Cokato
Finnish Cemetery,
rural Cokato.

The Pallbearers were Kent Davidson, Kelly Davidson, Jamie
Beckala, Chad Beckala, Michael Blackmun and Tom Menard.

Yvonne Annette Brandel (Rarer) was born September 12, 1959 in New Port, Rhode Island to Walt and Elaine Rarer (Knutson). She moved to Dassel in 1970 with her family, attending Dassel-Cokato School and graduating in 1977.

She enjoyed sharing her love for cooking with a strong work ethic taking many different positions in the food industry. After leaving Dassel, Yvonne lived for 8 years in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She was also a homemaker, providing a home for her life partner and their dogs in Black Duck, Minnesota, and finally residing in Louisburg, Minnesota the last few years. She Spent her time reading, camping, and traveling to flea markets. Her main joy was talking on the phone to whoever would answer.

Yvonne passed away in her home September 20, 2012 at the age of 53. She is survived by her daughter, Nicole (Randy) Moe and son, Cory Brandel; Grandchildren, Cain and Caleb Savoie, Clara and Chase Brandel, and Jeff and Clay Moe; mother, Elaine Rarer; father, Walt (Cathie) Rarer; sisters, Barb Rarer and Sandra (Tim) Benoit; nieces and nephews, Marcus and Amanda Benoit, Melissa (Trevor) Goulet, and Michael Rarer.

Yvonne is preceded in death by her sister, Dawn Rarer, and life partner, Harlan Russell.

Memorial Service: Friday, September 28, 2012, 3:00 pm at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Dassel, Minnesota.

Visitation: 1 hour prior to service at church

Celebration of Life: Saturday, September 22, 2012, 2:00 pm at Stockholm Lutheran Church of Cokato.

Visitation: Friday, September 21, 2012, 4-8pm at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, and 1 hour prior to service at Church.

James Orville Ryan, Cokato, age 76, passed away suddenly at Hutchinson Hospital on September 18, 2012.

James (Jim) Orville Ryan was born April 17, 1936 to Joseph & Irene (Peterson) Ryan in Bird Island, MN.  He was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Bird Island, MN. He graduated from Bird Island Public High School in 1954 and then became an active member of the National Guard.

Jim was united in marriage to Mary Ann Hess on September 17, 1961 at Stockholm Lutheran Church in Cokato.  They were later blessed with 3 children – Jonathan, Miriam, and Marilyn.

Jim was strong in his faith and was an active member of Stockholm Lutheran Church for many years.  He helped start the Stockholm Tractor Show and was found anywhere and everywhere that he could help, with Mary Ann at his side.  He also participated in many community activities such as the County Fair, Insurance Board, Museum Board, Sons of Norway, Legion, Cokato Corn Carnival, and many other organizations.  He was also an avid collector of Massey-Harris and Massey Ferguson Tractors.  Jim was an exemplary model of volunteerism in the Dassel-Cokato area.  He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and watching their activities- from football to concerts, he was always in the crowd.  Above all, he loved to be at the farm and working in the fields.

Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Ann, his 3 children and their spouses, Jonathan (Jane) Ryan of Cokato, Miriam Ryan of Maple Grove, and Marilyn (Bruce) Irvin of Cokato.  His 7 grandchildren- Kate, Rebecca, and Jacob Ryan of Cokato; Kiana Temanson of Maple Grove; Tyler, Jordan, and Sarah Irvin of Cokato also survive him.  He is further survived by his siblings, LaVonne (Robert) Wertish of Olivia, Robert (Mary) Ryan of Bird Island, Paul (Rita) Ryan of Lakeville, sister-in-laws Katherine Jolin of Springboro, OH, Jane Ray of St. Paul, Carolyn (Carl) Cole of St. Thomas, VI, and Brenda Hess of Redondo Beach, CA, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and many, many friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Joe & Irene, a sister Laura Mae, his in-laws, Omar & Ethel Hess, and brother-in-law Tim Jolin.

Arrangements were made by the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato.  A service of Christian Burial took place on Saturday, September 22 at Stockholm Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Little officiating.

Beatrice passed away at her home in Edgwood Gables on Sunday morning, 9/16/2012

Memorial service will be at 11 AM Saturday, September 22, at North Crow River Lutheran Church

Visitation will begin at 10 AM

Interment will be in the Church Cemetery

Passed away 9/7/2012 at Waconia Ridgeview Hospital

Funeral Service 2PM Monday, 9/10/2012 at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake

Visitation: 5-8 Sunday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake and 1hr prior to services at church on Monday

Prayer service: 7 PM Sunday

Interment: St. James Lutheran Cemetery on Dutch Lake