Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Russell “Russ” Neil Miller, age 52, of Howard Lake, passed away in his sleep early May 22nd, 2023 at Abbott Hospital in Minneapolis. Russ was born on January 29th, 1971 at Buffalo Hospital in Buffalo, MN; son of Rodney and Katherine (Schibonski) Miller. Russ and Beverly (Heimerl) Miller were joined in marriage on October 12th, 1991 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted, MN. They were blessed with 31 years of marriage. Russ was a proud dairy farmer who started Dutch Lake Dairy with the support of his loving wife. He was dedicated to his cows and to his fields. When Russ was not tending to his animals, he loved to fish, hunt, and be with his family.
On Thursday evening, April 27th, Russ suffered from a brain aneurysm that led to a stroke. He was seen at Buffalo Emergency Room and then transferred to an Intensive Care Neurology Unit at Abbott Hospital in Minneapolis.
Above all things, Russ was a family man. He was devoted to his wife, children, and to his faith in our Lord. When there was free time, Russ spent every moment he could outside enjoying the Lord’s creation. On weekends, the family got together to enjoy beers on the deck, campfires, and brewery hopping. The whole family was competitive and loved to throw bean bags, play cards, and roll dice. Russ found joy being with his family and he will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his loving family: wife, Beverly; children, Tyler (Kelli), Abigail (Adam) Fischer, and Maggie (fiancé: Andrew Krause); granddaughter, Marcella; parents, Rodney and Katherine; and siblings, Greg (Nancy), Pam (Dean) Zierden, Sandi (Dan) Pomije, and Brad (Jill) Father-in-law, Dennis Heimerl; Sisters and brothers-in-law, Rose Heimerl; Ryan (Angie) Heimerl; John (Dayna)Heimerl and many nieces and nephews. Countless friends and hunting partners. Russ will be joining our Lord in Heaven with his grandparents and mother-in-law in God’s paradise.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. James Lutheran School1000 6th Ave, Howard Lake, MN 55349 for the general spending fund.
Services are as Follows:
Thursday Evening (5/25): Visitation at St. James Lutheran Church from 5pm to 8pm; prayer service to start at 7pm (1000 7th Ave, Howard Lake, MN 55349)
Friday Service (5/26): Visitation to start at 10am; funeral service at 11am, lunch in the St. James Lutheran School Gym to follow burial (1000 6th Ave, Howard Lake, MN 55349)
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, MN www.swansonpeterson.com 320-543-3401

Sherry Lynn Young, 74, of Anoka, MN passed away on Wednesday May 17, 2023 at The Estates of Delano after a courageous 9 1/2 month battle with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Sherry was born on January 13, 1949 in Minneapolis, MN to Wayne & Betty Hatrick. She was the second of 8 children. Sherry graduated from Howard Lake high school in 1968 and married Robert (Bob) Young on September 21, 1969 after he returned from active duty in the Vietnam war. Then they moved to Fort Meade, MD and lived on the Army base for one year while Bob finished his time in the Army. They moved back to Minnesota and settled in Cokato where they lived until 1994 when they moved to Annandale where they lived for 14 years. In 2009, Sherry retired and she and Bob moved to West Virginia for three years. They moved back to Minnesota in 2012 and after Bob passed away in 2013, Sherry began volunteering at the VA in the adult day health care unit. She loved volunteering her time to work with the veterans. Unfortunately, when the pandemic hit, the adult day health care unit closed and she was no longer able to volunteer.
Sherry loved her morning crossword puzzles and cups of coffee. She also loved antiques and collecting and the occasional road trip she would take with her daughter to go find those treasures. Sherry enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. No one would meet Sherry and not like her. She was truly an amazing person who will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her.
Sherry is survived by daughter Angela Young, sisters Trudy (Steve) Berg and Jody Hatrick, brothers Mike Hatrick, Tom Hatrick and Joe (Jenny) Hatrick, along with many nieces and nephews. Sherry is preceded in death by her husband Bob Young, son Jason Young, parents Wayne & Betty Hatrick and sisters Bonnie and Peggy Hatrick.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday May 24, 2023 at 11:00 am at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake with the visitation 1 hour prior at 10:00 am. www.swansonpeterson.com 320-543-3401

Merrill Wayne Birkholz, 84, of Howard Lake, MN, passed away peacefully at Cokato Manor Monday, May 8, 2023, from complications of a stroke.

A celebration of life service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the First Baptist Church of Cokato, MN. Visitation will be one hour before the service.

Merrill was born Aug. 11, 1938, in Cokato to Awalt and Frieda (Stueven) Birkholz.

Merrill graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1956.

He married the love of his life, Ramona Lundeen, Sept. 1, 1961, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato. They made their home northwest of Howard Lake on the farm where he grew up.

They started their lives together in a mobile home on the Birkholz farm across the hedge from the farmhouse. In 1965, Grandma and Grandpa Birkholz built a house in Howard Lake, and the family moved into the farmhouse. They raised their five children here – one girl and four boys.

He farmed both crops and livestock. In 1975, he sold the livestock to focus solely on cash crop farming. He also worked at JLCO selling grain dryers and bins for several years. In addition, he worked road construction after high school and, in later years, road construction for Mathiowetz Construction.

He retired from farming in early 2000. He enjoyed going to his kids and grandkids’ sporting and music events. A number of trips were made with friends and family, including Branson, Mexico, Florida, and North Dakota.

Merrill and Ramona spent their honeymoon up the North Shore, including Thunder Bay and Duluth, MN. An annual Duluth trip was a favorite place, and they would take the grandkids with.

In his later years, he took in stray farm cats – they would show up, and he would feed them.

He was a member of Grace Hill Church and a past member of the Assemblies of God Church in Cokato.

Merrill will be remembered for his strong faith, love for his family and friends, integrity, selflessness, compassion, and his daily trips into town (DQ, Marketplace, Norseman, Daniels).

He is survived by his children, Jody (Rick) Selin, Jedd (Traci) Birkholz, Darren Birkholz (Miranda Doering), Jonathan (Kristine) Birkholz, and Daniel Birkholz; grandchildren, Caleb and Carson Selin, Jillian, Jack, Joshua, and Joseph Birkholz, Breanna (Jonathan) Thorson, Brenden Birkholz, and Lynnea Birkholz; great-grandchildren, Lydia, Amara, Karis, Micah, and Wesley Thorson; and nieces, nephews, and many other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Ramona; twin grandsons; parents, Awalt and Frieda Birkholz; sisters, Ruby Drusch and Wilma Nelson; brothers, Wilton Birkholz and Virgil Birkholz; brothers-in-law, Ray Schmieg, Peter Nelson, and Gary Lundeen; and other close relatives.

Honorary urn bearers are his grandchildren.

Diers, Lois Marie, 92 of Howard Lake, Passed away at Stoney River Memory Care of Ramey on May 8, 2023. Survivors include sons; Mark of Howard Lake, Timothee of Billinudgel, Australia, Paul (Connie) of Oak Grove, MN, and Brian (Judith) of Urbana, IL; Funeral Service: 2PM Saturday, May 13. 2023 at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Howard Lake. Visitation begins 1hr prior to service at church, Interment Howard Lake Cemetery.

Joyce Marcella Goepfert, of Cokato, went to be with Jesus on May 3, 2023 at the age of 99 years, 10 months and 1 day. She was born in Regal, MN. July 2, 1923 to Sidney L. Roberts and Edith A. Roberts. She attended school in Regal, Belgrade, and Arlington. She married Stanley Goepfert at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake on September 30, 1949. Their union was blessed with the birth of 3 sons, Richard, Thomas, and James.
Stanley and Joyce farmed NW of Howard Lake at the family dairy farm until Stanley passed away in 1978, at the age of 55 years and 3 days. Joyce also worked outside of the home and farm for many years. Mainly at the Coast to Coast in Cokato, and later at the Lake Bowl in Howard Lake.
Joyce enjoyed puzzles and reading, but the thing she enjoyed most was her family. She loved having the family around and looked forward to visits with the grandkids. She especially enjoyed going up north to the lake and fishing with the family. Road trips were her favorite way to travel. She had her last big road trip at the age of 94 to Colorado. Duluth and Itasca were also favorite vacation spots.
On July 1, 2022, she moved to the Howard Lake Care Center, residing there until her passing. She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her mother and father-in-law, Louise and Emil Goepfert. Also preceding her in death are her brother, Pat Roberts, brother-in-law, Arvid, Goepfert, husband, Stanley, son, James Goepfert, grandson, Eric Goepfert, and great grandson Ethan.
She is survived by her sons, Richard (Judy), Thomas (Paulette) Goepfert, and grand-children, Elaine Goepfert (Jason Albrechtson), Jacob Goepfert, Luke Goepfert, Jennifer Goepfert (Travis Pedersen), Christine Goepfert, Lorelei (Tim) Sullivan, Odilia (Alex) Lindstrom, and Colleen Goepfert, step grandchildren, Dawn (Ed) Johnson and Holly (Robert) Helms,17 great-grandkids and 3 great great-grandkids, and numerous nieces and nephews, family and friends. Many people loved her and called her Grandma. She loved all her family very much and was extremely proud of them all. She changed many lives for the better with her love and support. She will be deeply missed.
Services will be at 3:00 PM on Friday, May 19, 2023 with visitation beginning at 1 PM at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato (280 3rd St. SE) Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com