Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Nancy Phoebe Jane Dokken Mills
Born in St Paul MN on January 16, 1933
Died Friday, March 26th 2021 in her sleep at home in Hanahan, SC listening to “It Is Well With My Soul.”

Nancy was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, navy wife, and more. She was a strong Christian whose light shined on so many people. The Lord was a central part of her life and every time she moved, she made sure to be active in helping the local body grow and mature. She ministered through singing in the choir, inviting people to church, helping with the prison ministry, cooking meals. She and Dusty were missionaries in the states for YFC Lifeline Youth Homes.

She lived all over the world with her Husband and family. She was married to Marvin (Dusty) Lew Mills LCDR U.S. Navy (Ret.). He was in the navy for almost 28 years. He preceded her in death in 1986. She was also preceded in death by her infant daughter Kayoko, and 21-year-old son Tino. She was the last surviving child of Altha and Elmer Dokken of Cokato, MN.

She was told she could not have children because of a car accident that shattered her spine, but she did not let her disability stop her from living life. After much discussion with the doctor, she was told she could carry a child only if she was on bed rest and she rose to the challenge. After her first child’s birth, Nancy went on to adopt 4 more children and over time foster-mothered 64 children.

Nancy is survived by her three children Dolores Carveth (Rick), Ryoko Yaryan (Samuel), and Toshio Mills (Jo), eight grandchildren Ann Popik (Ray), Carol Carveth, Tommy Carveth (Brette), Caleb Yaryan (Julie), Barak Yaryan (Lauren), Adriel Yaryan, Jacqueline Mills, and Joy Mills, and seven great-grandchildren, Noah Carveth, Jude Yaryan, Nora Yaryan, Ezra Yaryan, Malachi Yaryan, Isaac Yaryan, Selah Yaryan.

Those close to her would describe her as indomitable, loving, nurturing, and servant-hearted.
Nancy was “one tough cookie” who loved the Lord.

Memorial donations can be sent to:
Lowcountry Crisis Pregnancy Center – https://secure.egsnetwork.com/donate/8EED4D31384E446
Cokato Museum – https://www.cokatomuseum.org/how-to-donate.html
Campus Outreach – https://www.campusoutreach.org/donate/

Grave side Service: 2PM April 5, 2021 at Cokato City Cemetery
Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Cokato and Howard Lake, Minnesota 320-286-2534

Syrillis Althea (Krueger) Reek age 99, passed away March 21, 2021. She was born Dec. 24th, 1921 to Herman and Beda Krueger in Loretto, Minnesota. Syrillis graduated district 77 in Loretto, Minnesota. She was married October 4th, 1942 to Marvin Reek at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Waukegan, Ill. They spent many years farming near Howard Lake after Marvin returned from WWII. They had two children, Mary Ann and Dennis.
Syrillis worked as a homemaker and enjoyed cooking, sewing, and making quilts. She would always make coffee and have home-baked treats for those that dropped by to visit. Syrillis enjoyed many wonderful years of retirement traveling with Marvin throughout the United States and snow-birding in Florida and Arizona.
She was preceded in death by her parents, half-brother, Claude Hoard, half-sister, Phillis Slind, and great-granddaughter, Hannah Lagergren, brothers, Vernon and Wally Krueger, son-in-law, Richard Groven, and granddaughter-in-law, Kiley Lagergren.
Survived by her son, Dennis (Bonnie) Reek, daughter, Mary Ann Groven, grandsons, Steve (Dawn), Mark (Jessica), and Aaron (Kiley) Lagergren, granddaughter, Amanda (Matt) Roeder, great-grandchildren, Nora, Holly ,Anna, Mae, Teagen, Hayden, Kaplan, Starr, Phoenix, and Justice, sister, Dolores (Harold) Burke, along with several nieces and nephews.
She will be happily reunited with her beloved husband Marvin and other family and friends who have gone before her.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake with visitation 1 hour prior to services at the church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home, www.swansonpeterson.com 320-543-3401

Weller, Richard S. Jr.
age 93 of Howard Lake, passed away March 16, 2021 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. He was born January 28, 1928 in Hopkins, MN to Richard and Luella (Townsend) Weller. Richard attended Rockford Schoolhouse until the 8th grade and later in life obtained his GED. He held various jobs in maintenance, farming, and as a machinist. Richard enjoyed driving tractors, mowing the lawn with the lawn tractor, reading, astronomy, and watching storms.
Preceded in death by his parents, wife, Gertrude, son, Bruce, stepdaughter, Dawn, sister, Rosie and Hazel, and brother, Willard.
Survived by his sons, David and Brian, daughters, Kathy, Debbie, and Marla, stepsons, Frank Bulock and William Roth, and sister, Varona Seth.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Albion Evangelical Free Church, with visitation 1 hour prior to services at church.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota www.swansonpeterson.com 320-543-3401

Phyllis D. Nikunen, 78, of Clarion, passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion.
Phyllis Dianne Junttila, the daughter of John and Julia (Walikainen) Junttila, was born August 31, 1942 in South Range, Michigan. Phyllis graduated from L’Anse High School in L’Anse, Michigan in 1960. She then continued her education at Suomi Junior College majoring in Accounting, graduating in 1961. While at Suomi Junior College, she toured Europe with the college choir.
Phyllis was united in marriage to Pastor Jerome Nikunen on September 14, 1963 in Chassell, Michigan. The couple followed their callings to various towns and states throughout their marriage.
Phyllis held many jobs over the years, including a certified chiropractor assistant, dental assistant, sales representative for Thrivent, Special Education para and helped with disabled. Her biggest passion of all was being a Pastor’s wife and homemaker.
Phyllis enjoyed reading, collecting dolls, and churches, sewing, and camping with her family. Every summer the family would make their way to the family cabin on Twin Lakes.
Phyllis is remembered for being very social and kind hearted. It was often stated that “Dad was the head of the household but she was the neck that turns the head.” She always put family and the Lord first.
Phyllis is survived by her husband of 58 years of marriage Pastor Jerome; son Jeff and Brenda Nikunen and their children Jeremy, Jessica, Rose, Samuel and Caleb; daughter Rebecca (Dale) Trushenski and children Marcus, Daniel, Jonathan, Annika and Ronnie (Kayla); sister Kathy (Dave) Nikunen; brothers-in-law, John Feldman and Bruce (Marsha) Nikunen; sisters-in law Kris (Glen) Kloempken, and Susan Wiles, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; brother, John Junttila; and grandson, Peter.
May God bless her memory.
Memorial Service: 2 PM Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church of Cokato

In Loving Memory of
Mae Ruth (Adams) Amundson

Mae R. Amundson of Cokato, Minnesota died Tuesday evening, March 2, 2021 at Buffalo Hospital – 10 days shy of her 92nd birthday.
Mae was born March 12, 1929 on the family farm in Irving Township, Kandiyohi County. A child of the Great Depression, she never feared hard work and at the age of six was baking bread and cakes alongside her mother, and washing dishes for the large family and threshing crews.
Mae was confirmed in the Christian faith in 1940 and was a 1947 graduate of Atwater High School. She married Waldon Amundson of rural Cokato on October 1, 1949 in Harrison Township. The couple settled into marriage on the Amundson family farm near Cokato and raised three children. Educated and trained as an LPN, Mae worked at hospitals and nursing facilities in Wilmar, Cokato and Litchfield. She was proud to assist families with the arrival of their newborns and other medical needs.
Mae enjoyed gardening and canning, baking and embroidery, crafts and quilting, and reading and learning. Her long-held desire to visit the wilds of Alaska was fulfilled in 2010 when she traveled the state with her three grown children.
Mae is preceded in death by her husband Waldon, her parents Gustav and Emma (Widmark) Adams of New London, her sister Ellen Hellwinkel (spouse Fred) and five brothers George Adams (spouse Marion), Paul Adams (spouse Mavis), Kenneth Adams, Phillip Adams (spouse Lorraine) and Edgar Adams (spouse Josie).
Mae is survived by her daughter Kathy Devine and husband Tom of Ferndale, WA; son Mark Amundson and wife Julie of Cokato; and daughter Eloise Teklu and husband Ephrem of Los Angeles, CA. She was the proud grandmother of Shannon Devine (spouse Michael) and Rachel Devine of Washington State, Melissa Roulet (spouse Josh) of St. Cloud, Nikki Van der Zwaag (spouse Andy) of Milaca, Benjamin Amundson of St. Cloud, Raphael Teklu of Los Angeles and Jeremiah Teklu of Arcata, CA. Mae also adored her great-granddaughter Pepper Curtis Devine and great-grandsons Camryn, Talan, Madden, Kaysen and Nolan Van der Zwaag – and will be fondly remembered by much-cherished nieces and nephews, church members and friends.
Services for Mae will be held at 11 am on March 10, 2021 at Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church, with visitation one hour prior in the Narthex. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.swansonpeterson.com. Blessed journey home, Mae.