Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Steven Klammer, 61, of Litchfield (formally of Howard Lake) passed away peacefully on March 11, 2025 at St Cloud Hospital surrounded by his family, due to complications from back surgery.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, March 21 at the American Legion in Howard Lake from 4-7 pm.

Steven Wayne Klammer was born November 7, 1963 in Winsted MN, the son of Kenneth and Shirley (Stock) Klammer. Steve was baptized, attended school and confirmed at St James Lutheran in Howard Lake and graduated in 1982 from Howard Lake Waverly High School. He also attended Ridgewater College.

In his teenage years, he would push the limit with his mischievous and partying adventures but for some reason he always got caught!

He married Karen Stoen in 1984 and together they had four sons: Wayne, Mitchel, Kyle and Wesley. He taught them how to fish and hunt. He also enjoyed watching their sporting events and being on the lake.

In 2011, he married Kathy Keeler and got used to living in town. They enjoyed trips to Walker, taking the boat out on Leech Lake and visiting Duluth. But most of all he loved a good meat raffle and was very lucky too.

Steve enjoyed being active with farming, fishing, hunting, boating and visiting with people. After he quit farming, he got a job selling boats and pontoons at Crystal Pierz Marine and then worked at Cabela’s in Rogers after it opened in 2005. He was an excellent salesman and truly enjoyed meeting customers and getting them in the water with a new boat. He even met Luke Bryan in 2017, didn’t know who he was, “apparently this guy sings country music” when he texted a picture.

He remained grounded to his farming roots, whenever he could he would help area farmers during harvest.

Recently, health issues plagued his body and he disliked not being able to get around and be active without pain. His cat, Doofy was his best friend. He struggled to find a surgeon to relieve his back pain and when he finally did and had the surgery, his body wasn’t strong enough to recover.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Shirley Klammer.

Steve is survived by his sons Wayne (Melinda Harrison), Mitch, Kyle (Ashley Ditty) and Wesley (Brittany Nelson). Much loved his grandchildren Addison, Avery, Haisley, Karianna, Ezekiel and Micah. Sisters Joni (Curt) Hedtke, Lori (Jim) Manecke and special friend Wendy Danzelsen. Nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Thank you for your prayers, words of kindness, memories shared and memorials. It is greatly appreciated and will help us heal during this difficult time.

Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota. #320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

Michelle “Micki” Kae Day, age 82, passed away February 26, 2025 in Big Lake, MN at Cherrywood Assisted Living.

Michelle was born May 18, 1942 in Minneapolis, MN to Byron & Mildred Staaf.

She spent several years as a newspaper editor & enjoyed studying genealogy and loved her dogs.

Survivors include: daughter Ginny (Mike) Arbogast, grandson Dan Arbogast and sister-in-law Karen Staaf.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Art Staaf.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, March 3, 2025 at Swanson Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato, MN with visitation one hour prior.

Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota. #320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

William Robert Constenius, 87, of Dassel, MN died Saturday, February 8, 2025 at his home.

A funeral service will take place Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church in rural Dassel with Minister Mark Koivisto officiating. Visitation for family and friends at 10:00 AM, Service at 11:00 AM.

William Robert Constenius was born August 3, 1937 to William and Aili Constenius in Floodwood, MN. Bill went to Ojanpera Country School, then attended Dunwoody Institute graduating with a plumbing degree. He works for Boedeker Plumbing and Heating for 40 years. He plumbed in all the Perkins Restaurants in the area as well as numerous other commercial projects.

Bill married Janet Heinonen in March of 1958. They resided in Minneapolis before moving to Cokato in 1969. Later in life, when Bill moved back to Dassel, he met Jeanne Fennert. They became very close friends and remained so until his passing.

Bill loved the outdoors, cutting wood was taken very seriously. He would take his thermos of coffee and head out to the woods for the day. Golfing with his friends was a favorite pastime. I’m sure his golfing buddies have many fun stories to tell! Bill also loved gardening. His flower beds were probably the best Dassel has ever seen. He was very compassionate toward his elderly neighbors – mowing their lawns, blowing heavy snow, cleaning up branches from their yards or whatever they needed help with.

Bill is survived by brother Paul, sons Bruce and Tom (Mary), and daughter Karen (Pete) Lehto, five grandsons: Andrew Josephson, Warren (Christina) Josephson, Brian (Brook) Josephson, Dan (Brandi) Josephson and Aaron Josephson and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by parents William and Aili Constenius, sisters Dorothy and Marilyn Constenius, brothers: Gary, Kenny, James (Cheryl) Constenius.

Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, Minnesota.
#320-286-2534. www.swansonpeterson.com

Steven Dale Weber passed away February 8, 2025 at The Glenn in Buffalo, MN.

Steve was born in Cokato, MN on June 3, 1953 to George and Lorraine (Scheer) Weber. He spent his early years on the family dairy farm in Howard Lake. He attended St. James Lutheran School and later graduated with the Class of 1971 from Howard Lake High School. On July 8, 2006, he married Bonnie Gorecki.

Known to many throughout Howard Lake as “Webs”, he was a true man of service to his friends, family and community. He was a long time staff member at the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Schools as a teacher assistant, and media specialist. Steve’s passion for Laker sports was second to none. He spent countless hours at events dedicating time to taking stats for many football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball teams. He was a huge supporter of the Howard Lake Orphans amateur baseball team. Steve also loved to bowl and was secretary of the Men’s Bowling League for many years. Besides being a sports fanatic, he was a loyal member of Howard Lake Lions Club for over three decades. He enjoyed Bingo, golf, and going for walks. Steve was a lifelong member of the St. James Lutheran Church.

Steve is survived by wife Bonnie, step-children: Becky Frank, Carol (Dean) Ariola, Jessica (Nate) Bond and 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by siblings: Ron (Jean) Weber, Mark (Linda) Weber, and brother-in-Law Ken Broker, nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, sister Marilynne Broker, sister-in-Law Norma Weber and step-son Rodney Frank, Jr.

Services will be held at 12 Noon on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake, Minnesota with visitation starting at 10 AM.

Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota. #320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com

Terry Alan Burkett was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 8th, 1963 to Lavonne Burkett and James “Jim” Burkett. He spent his childhood moving around from Milwaukee to Illinois to Iowa and then finally Waverly, Minnesota where he attended Howard Lake Waverly Winsted High School. Here, he met his wife Judy (Mochinski) Burkett whom he was married to for forty-one years. They had three children and six grandchildren together.

Terry’s greatest joys in life were his family and sports. When his boys were younger, he coached their little league sports teams and when his daughter was a gymnast, he never missed a meet. You could always find him on the basketball court with his kids and all the neighborhood kids shooting hoops or teaching them how to pitch. His endless support did not stop after his kids were grown. He attended all his grandchildren’s events, even driving around the country to ensure he never missed an event. He also stayed actively involved in modified softball and was a member of a dart league. In his spare time, Terry could also be found on a boat fishing, in the casino with friends, or being mischievous and playing a prank on his friends and co-workers.

Aside from being a family man, Terry was known by most within the community for his work as a self-employed painter. He had worked as a painter for many years and started his own business in 1993 that he maintained until his cancer diagnosis.

Terry passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and his Frenchie, Ace on February 6th, 2025 after a long battle with terminal brain cancer. He underwent every treatment option available, even an experimental treatment in hopes that he could help others in his position.

Terry is survived by his mother Lavonne; his wife Judy; his sisters: Bobbie, Lori, and Jodi, and his brother James; his children: Joshua (Jenny), Joseph (Leah), and Ashley (Bennett); grandchildren: Ethan, Bryce, Brayden, Alayna, Rosie, and James; and numerous nieces and nephews, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jim; his brother, Mark, and infant brother, Craig.

His Celebration of Life will be held at The Blue Note in Winsted, MN on Friday, February 14, 2025 from 4 PM to 7 PM.