Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Brenda Louise (Martin) Rydberg, age 69, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home near Dassel, Minnesota on Monday, March 21, 2022. Heaven received a beautiful treasure that day. For, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” Psalm 116:15

Brenda was born May 2, 1952 to Glenn and Janet (Juhl) Martin in Belleville, Illinois. Brenda spent her early formative years in various locations including Cherokee, Iowa and Santa Clara, California. In 1965, she moved from Santa Clara with her mother and two younger sisters (Heidi and Lisa) to LeMars, Iowa after her father’s death. She graduated from LeMars Community High School in 1970. She graduated from Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa in 1974 with a double major in German and Elementary Education.

Brenda Martin married LaDon Rydberg on December 22, 1975 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in LeMars, Iowa. To this union were born seven children, Andrew, Miriam, Joseph, Jesse, Bethany, Michael, and Samuel. Brenda was a dedicated homeschool mother, spending much time teaching valuable life skills, reading books for countless hours aloud, going over their studies, and training her children to perform tasks well. Her greatest desire was that her children and grandchildren grow up to love God. That desire spilled over to the lives of many friends and acquaintances.

Brenda always had a love for people wherever she lived and went. She developed many a relationship by wanting others to know God and the importance of having Him be the focus of their life. She was passionate about studying God’s Word and praying for many people by writing Scripture prayers for them. She took great joy in being a blessing to others, since to her it was a great blessing to be a blessing to others. An example of the far-reaching influence is Farshad from Iran who called Brenda his very special American mom and she called him her sixth son. He also claimed her as his spiritual mother as did many others.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents Glenn and Janet Martin, uncle Harold Rose, and mother-in-law Lois Rydberg.

She is survived by her husband, LaDon of Dassel, MN; children Andrew (Julie) Rydberg of Litchfield, MN; Miriam (Samuel) Glucklich of Janesville, CA; Joseph (KayCee) Rydberg of Dassel, MN; Jesse (Haley) Rydberg of Litchfield, MN; Bethany (Ben) Rickett of Janesville, CA; Michael Rydberg of Dassel, MN; and Samuel Rydberg of Dassel, MN; 20 grandchildren Asher, Simon and Jonas Rydberg of Litchfield, MN; Megan, Molly, Gideon, Natalie, Gracie, Gabriel, Elise, and Timothy Glucklich of Janesville, CA; Fletcher, Emma, Thatcher, and Archer Rydberg of Dassel, MN; Charlie, Danny, Edward, Addelyn, and Fredrick Rickett of Janesville, CA; sisters Heidi (Chuck) Cram of Montrose, CO; Lisa (Robert) Rhea of Smyrna, TN; aunt Brenda Rose of LeMars, IA; father and mother-in-law LuVerne and Marge Rydberg of Alta, IA: sisters-in-law Gayle (Harold) Craig of Armstrong, IA; Anne (Rollin) Nordell of Apple Valley, MN; Joan (Tadd) Chapman of San Antonio, TX; brothers-in-law Kent (Brenda) Rydberg of Dassel, MN; Paul (Nancy) Rydberg of Arthur, IA; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at Dassel Covenant Church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Chester Ralph Holm, 85 of Elk River, MN passed away 3/10/2022.  Chester was born September 8, 1936 to Franklin & Agnes (Bjurstrom) Holm, in Cokato, Minnesota. He proudly served his country in the army from 1955-1957 in the Korean War. After the war, he came back to Cokato and met his bride and married Jeanette Marie Schultz on July 28^th 1961.  He worked for the Telephone Company for over 42 years.  Chester was a lover of the outdoors and loved fishing, hunting and gardening.  Chester loved his family and friends.

He is survived by his sister Arlene (Jim) Phinney, 3 children Delwin (Donna) Holm, Dorothy (Mike) Foster, and Darla Grotheer, 6 Grandchildren; Jeff, Jason, Nick, Bryan, Brittany and Kayla, and 5 Great Grandchildren and many other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Franklin and Agnes Holm, wife Jeanette (Schultz) Holm, sisters Helen Peterson, Evelyn Hintz, & Edith Peterson, brothers Ronald, Carl, and Stanley Holm, brothers-in-law: Ellwood Hintz, Eldon Peterson, and Omar Peterson, sister-in-law: Margy Holm, niece Connie Holtz and other relatives and close friends.

A celebration of Chester’s life is planned for 11AM on Saturday, May 21^st at Memorial Park on Brooks Lake in Cokato, Minnesota. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-286-2534

Sheila Kaye Briesemeister age 69, of Howard Lake, MN entered into eternal glory with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 9, 2022. She was born January 13, 1953 to Roger and Alberta (Blodgett) Engel of Cokato, MN. Sheila was baptized into Christian faith on March 11, 1953 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. She was confirmed in her faith on May 14, 1967 by Gerhard Michael. Sheila graduated from Cokato High School and later married Gary Briesemeister. They had two children, Aaron and Amber. She made Howard Lake her home for most of her life. Her work was in transportation, spending many years working in Roseville, MN. Sheila was a loving mother and grandmother, with her children being the love of her life. Sheila loved watching her children in sports and music while they attended high school and college. She enjoyed crocheting and made several afghans and blankets during her lifetime. Sheila is survived by her children, Aaron (Hannah) Briesemeister and Amber (Jacob) Lind, grandchildren, Janne and Zarah Briesemeister, Addisyn and Avrey Lind, step-grandchildren, Alivia, Havilah, Ariel, and Shiloh, sister, Sharon (Neil) Howell of Plymouth, MN, nephew, Derek (Carli) Remer, brother, David Engel of Cokato, and two other sisters from Minneapolis, nieces and nephews. Sheila was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, Mark, and her grandparents, Walter and Doris Engel.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, March 14, 2022 at St. James Lutheran Church with visitation 2 hours prior to services at church. Interment will follow at Howard Lake Cemetery. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com

LaVonne Jannett (Birkholz) Stueven, age 92, of Howard Lake, passed away Saturday, February 26th, at Hennepin County Medical Center.

LaVonne was born September 4th, 1929 to Louis and Esther (Streich) Birkholz in Stockholm Township.  Baptized September 29th, 1929 by C.G. Seltz at St. James Lutheran Church, Howard Lake.  Confirmed April 18th, 1943 by Eugene Seltz at St James Lutheran Church.  Her verse was John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice.  LaVonne was married to Dale Stueven on October 23rd, 1948 by Theo Melinat at St James Lutheran Church.

They had three children and farmed together for 44 years.  Besides farming and selling seed corn she loved to garden, play cards with the card party group, work with crafts, sew, embroidery, crochet, quilt, ceramics, greeting cards, and doll furniture out of pop cans. She worked for several years at Timeless Designs where she sewed quilts, shower curtains, bathrobes, and made coordinating picture frames and hat boxes (some of which went to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis).  She loved to travel and visited Alaska, Hawaii, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Spain, and Africa.  She was a lifelong member of St. James Lutheran Church and enjoyed bible class and LWML.  She loved to spend time with family and friends and will be missed by all of us.

LaVonne is survived by her children, Lyle (Maxine) Stueven of Annandale, Pamela Heffern of Litchfield, Kimberly (Nathan) Jopp of Lester Prairie, her grandchildren, Ashley (Justin) Kamphenkel, Tyler (Ira) Stueven, Teri (Eric) Starkey, Jesse Sanden, Jeremy (Heather) Sanden, Adler Jopp, her great grandchildren, Esther, Felix, and Gus Kamphenkel, Letty and Hank Stueven, Ariana and Jameson Starkey, Madison and Brooklynn Sanden, Taylor and Haylee Sanden.

LaVonne is preceded in death by parents Louis and Esther Birkholz, brothers Gordon Birkholz and Kenneth Birkholz, sister Muriel Mattson, sister in law Phylis Birkholz, brother in law Clayton Mattson, nephew John Mattson.

A funeral service will take place Friday, March 4th, 2022 at 2 PM, at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, with visitation one hour prior.  Arrangements were by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake.

Della Mae Hirsch, age 90, passed away peacefully on February 17 2022 at her residence in Waverly, Minnesota. She was born May 19, 1931 in Montrose, Minnesota to Leo and Catherine (Blummer) Yager. She was baptized May 24, 1931 by Pastor E.H. Bruns. Della confirmed her faith March 25, 1945 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church of Delano Minnesota by Pastor E.H Bruns. Della Hirsch graduated in the class of 1949 in Howard Lake. Della married Eldon Hirsch on April 22, 1953 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church of Delano Minnesota by Pastor M.J. Lenz. They were each other’s pride and joy. They made their life together at a family farm north of Howard Lake. They were blessed with four children. Della spent most of her time working beside her husband Eldon on their farm, most important she had her bird feeders full. Della loved spending her spare time listening to music and square dancing. Most Fridays’ Della spent her time at Senior Citizens above the library playing cards. Della provided her famous potato salad and rice krispies. Bus trips and traveling far and wide, this is how Della got the name Crazy Legs Hirsch. Della could always be found at local Craft Shows selling her doilies or taking orders to make other custom pieces for them to bring home to their families. Della was a member of the Wright County Historical Society. Della enjoyed her summers in the old log school house at the Wright County Fair educating and talking to members of the community. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Catherine Yager; husband Eldon Hirsch; son, James Hirsch; granddaughter, Nicole Hirsch. Della was survived by; daughter, Kathleen (Rick) Marschel of Maple Lake, daughter-in-law, Julie (John) Wilson of Howard Lake, son, Lyle (Mary) Hirsch of Howard Lake and daughter, Cindy (Ronnie) Grangroth of Waverly; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and a host of family and friends.

A funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, with visitation 1 hour prior. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Howard Lake, MN 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com