Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Ronald Nicholas Miller of Howard Lake Passed away on March 28, 2020 at his home.
Ronald Nicholas Miller was born on July 10, 1951, in Richmond, MN to Paul and Leona (Thiesen) Miller. He was baptized and confirmed at Assumption Catholic Church of Eden Valley, MN. Ron grew up in Eden Valley, MN and graduated from Eden Valley-Watkins High School in 1969. After high school, Ron joined the United States Air Force. He served from 1969-1973 and spent a year in Ubon, Thailand. On July 17, 1971, Ron married his high school sweetheart, Jean Marie Booth, at the Church of Saint Anthony in Watkins, MN. Following his time in the Air Force, Ron took a job with the U.S. Postal Service. He worked in Minneapolis, Golden Valley, and Buffalo before becoming Postmaster of Howard Lake in 1981, until his retirement on March 31, 2005.

Ron was a loving and dedicated Husband, Father, and Grandfather who generously gave his time and energy to support his family and loved ones. He had a very kind heart and continuously put others before himself. Ron’s sense of humor kept his family and friends amused. He brought joy to all who knew him. It is hard to describe such an incredible man, nothing can compare to the love he gave, the memories he made, and the feelings we are left with in our hearts.

Ron enjoyed traveling, making bird houses with the grandkids, collecting license plates, and having coffee with friends. He was known for his organizational skills both in and out of the office. Ron was a member of the Howard Lake American Legion Post 145 and St Mary’s Catholic Church of Waverly.

Ron passed away at his home in Howard Lake on March 28, 2020, after a courageous battle with Leukemia. He reached the age of 68 years, 8 months, and 18 days.

Ron is survived by his Wife, Jean, of 48 years; Children: Jeff (Mary) Miller of Cokato, MN, Steve (Lorie) Miller of Wright City, MO, Michelle (Cullen) Czech of Big Lake, MN; Grandchildren: Morgan Czech, Grant Czech, Sawyer Miller, Sydney Miller; Step Grandchildren: Cayla (Matt) Grates, Colton Czech, Kyle Hennkens, Reese Hennkens and Step Great Granddaughter, Charlotte Wickland. He is also survived by his Mother, Leona Miller; Siblings: Mary Weeres, Linda (Joe) Mehr, Bruce (Joey) Miller, Brian (Linda) Miller, Bob (Linda) Miller, Gary Miller, nieces, nephews, extended family, and many friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his Father, Paul Miller, Brother, Stephen Miller, and Brother-in-law, Ed Pilantz.

The family will always be grateful to Brian Miller for being Ron’s bone marrow donor. A heartfelt thanks to the doctors and nurses at Monticello Cancer Center, North Memorial A6, and Mayo Clinic.

A graveside service will take place at 10:30 AM with visitation 1 hour prior on Friday, July 10, 2020 with military honors at the Howard Lake City Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at South Shore Event Center (625 8th Ave S, Howard Lake, MN 55349). Visitation will be held from 4-8 PM on Thursday, July 9, 2020 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake. 320-543-3401 www.swansonpeterson.com

https://livestream.com/accounts/5053468/events/9175639

Hagen, Joyce Lucille
age 83, of Howard Lake passed away June 11, 2020 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was born on the homestead farm in Swift County, Minnesota on April 19, 1937 to Stanley and Luella (Anderson) Peterson. She grew up near Kerkhoven, MN, being baptized on July 30, 1937 and confirmed May 18, 1952 at Kerkhoven Lutheran Church. She graduated from Kerkhoven High School in 1957. On August 8, 1970 she was united in marriage to Donald Hagen at Lyndale Lutheran Church in Maple Plain, MN. Joyce made her career as a nursing assistant at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, MN, as a farm wife and homemaker, and a daycare provider. She made her home in Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Watertown, and Howard Lake, Minnesota. Joyce was a member of Christian Women’s Club and involved in many church groups and activities at Lyndale Lutheran Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, MN. She enjoyed gardening, baking, sewing, and antique collecting.
Survived by her husband, Donald, daughters, Felicia Croy, Wendy Bittner, Roxanne (Shane) Ruffenach, and Misty Hagen, grandchildren, Samantha, Britta, Isaac, Amanda, Jonah, and Lucy, sister, Leola (Tom) Leonard, and brother, Gordon Peterson.
Preceded in death by her parents.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake with visitation 1 hour prior to services at the church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Howard Lake www.swansonpeterson.com 320-543-3401

Jacobs, Nancy Maureen
age 77, of Howard Lake passed away on June 1, 2020 at The Lodge in Howard Lake, Minnesota. She was born on the family farm in Turton, South Dakota, April 20, 1943 to William and Janice (Shippee) Holdorf. Following graduation from Brentford High School, Nancy pursued her Bachelors of Science at Presentation Nursing College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She was united in marriage to Larry Jacobs on April 22, 1967 in Brentford, South Dakota. They were blessed with the birth of 3 boys. They made their life together in Howard Lake, where she pursued a career in nursing.
Nancy enjoyed summer fishing, camping, her flower garden and indoor plants. She also enjoyed her horses and going to the farm and the occasional shopping spree. Her main love was watching her 3 boys play sports and spending time with her grandchildren and her best friend, her sister, Sandra.
Preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, Sandra Christopherson, and step-father, Gideon Kaul.
Survived by her children, Bill (Linda), Jason (Sara), and Chris (Briana), grandchildren, Ambriel, Ariana, Grace, Emily, Lucy, Wyatt, and Kade.
A private family service will take place at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Howard Lake, www.swansonpeterson.com, 320-543-3401

Thomas James Keaveny
Tom was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota April 11,1935 to James and Madeleine Keaveny. He graduated from DeLaSalle High School. He attended the University of Minnesota before entering into the Army in 1954 for basic training at Fort Leonard Missouri transferring to the 9th infantry Division in Swaback Germany as a survey instrument operator Battery A of the 26th Field Artillery Battalion.
Released from the Service Sept 10th, 1956, he entered Pharmacy School at North Dakota State University and Graduated in 1959. He was married in July of that year to Darby Driscoll. They were married for 61 years. They had 4 children Kim Keaveny, Kelly (Deborah) Keaveny, Kari (Bradley) Skatter and Kristen (Timothy) Servin and 5 Grandchildren Danielle (Adam) Ruhland, Mitchell Skatter, Mackenzie Skatter, Killian Keaveny, Delaney Keaveny and a great Granddaughter Addison Ruhland.
Tom began his career with his Father at the Drug Store on 48th and Grand Ave in Minneapolis before buying the business in 1963 upon his Fathers death. He continued at this location until 1974 moving to Cokato and purchasing Peterson Pharmacy. He later moved the store to Cokato Mall where it is now in his Son Kelly’s able hands, maintaining a legacy of family tradition.
Tom has been active in Cokato for many years. He served on the Cokato Development Corporation, Cokato City Council, Corn Carnival and City Planning and Zoning. He was active in Boy Scouts, Rotary, American Legion and Wright County Human Services.
Tom enjoyed life and his family. He was quick with a laugh and loved a good story. He loved a good joke and was known to be quite the prankster since no one suspected him. He was there for anyone who needed a helping hand and could never say no to anyone. He will be remembered for his quick wit, great laugh and his kindness.
He enjoyed camping (Nemadji trips were memorable) snowmobiling, skiing, boating, wave runners, the official mixer of the punch at the bingo stand, coffee with the boys and the Dairy Queen. His “Happy Place” was the Cabin on the Lake at Francis where his most precious possessions still laugh and play.
He will be missed by his family and friends.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a private Mass and burial will be held. In lieu of flowers or donations please give to the Alzheimers Association, charity of your choice or pay a kindness forward in his honor.

Darlene “Mia” Rosemary Johansson, 68, of Cokato Minnesota died Friday, May 15, 2020 at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield.
Mia was born on January 30, 1952 in Eveleth to Hugo and Lillian (Palo) Johnson and grew up in Mountain Iron. She was a graduate of the Mountain Iron High School and attended Eveleth Vo-Tech
Mia had a sense of adventure and traveled every chance she could, visiting family and friends around the world. She travelled many places with Sven including Sweden, Finland, China, Indonesia, Israel, Ecuador, and Australia. She always made sure to set aside extra time to visit her children and grandchildren.
On April 3, 1982 she married Sven Johansson in Virginia, MN. Following their wedding, Sven and Mia moved to Sweden where they lived for five years before settling in Cokato, MN.
Mia raised six children and later went on to work as a Healthcare Assistant at Maple Plain Nursing home.
Mia had a caring and outgoing personality, she never met a stranger, she loved meeting and talking to people making friends wherever she went. She showed love and support to her family throughout her life. She absolutely adored her grandchildren and her eyes would light up whenever she spent time with them. She also loved to garden, and every fall she was happy to share the bounty from her vegetable garden.
Foremost, she put her faith, love and trust in Jesus Christ her Lord and Saviour. She was a faithful servant and worker in His Kingdom. She will be greatly missed by her husband and all fellow believers.
Darlene is survived by her husband Sven, six children Dan (Gemvita) Johansson of Minneapolis, David (Genevieve) Johansson of Germantown, TN, Linnea (Robert) Jackson of Prior Lake, Sven-Erik (Marija) Johansson of Olathe, KS, Amy (Carlos) Viteri of Houston, TX and Jennifer (Italo) Vazquez of Minneapolis, eight grandchildren; Lilliana and Briana LeBaron of Prior Lake, Thomas, Hugo and Elise Johansson of Germantown, TN, Bodin Johansson of Olathe City, KS, and Jayla and Jason Vazquez of Minneapolis; five sisters Cynthia Griffin of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Priscilla Ylitalo of Brainerd, Charlotte (Norman) Hillukka of Menahga, Corrine Laho of Plymouth, Harriet (Edward) Lehto of Dassel and two brothers Steven (Denise) Johnson of Buffalo and James (Susan) Johnson of Mountain Iron and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugo and Lillian Johnson, three brothers, Aaron, Calvin and Joseph; and three brothers-in-law, Harold Kangas, Ralph Ylitalo and Earl Griffin.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 18 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato (Limitations of 10 gathered with social distancing guidelines of 6 feet apart and please wear face coverings for safety). Burial will be in the Cokato Finnish Cemetery.
Arrangements are with Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato.