Swanson Peterson Funeral Home

Norma Arlene Larson was born on the family farm in Middleville Township on March 21, 1925 to Emil and Edith (Johnson) Larson. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1943. After high school she worked at a variety of jobs in several locations including California and Minneapolis.

On February 24, 1951 Norma married Carl Carlson at Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church. Their 68 years together were blessed with 5 children. Norma made being a caring wife and mother her main calling until the children were in upper elementary and high school. At that time she added caring for the residents at the Buffalo Retirement Center to her job description. She worked at the Retirement Center until Carl retired from his job at Minnesota Rubber. After retirement Carl and Norma were very active in their children’s and grandchildren’s lives. They also traveled to several places. Norma was a member at Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church her entire life. She was very active in Sunday School, Luther League and Ladies Aid. Two of her favorite pastimes were playing piano and putting jig saw puzzles together. Norma was a woman whose life was full of grace, compassion and helping others. The things that mattered most were her faith in God, her husband, her children, her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Norma passed away at Cokato Manor on November 7, 2021. She had reached the age of 96 years, 7 months and 17 days.
Survivors include her children: Barbara (Richard) Barsness, Joan (Stephen) Schesvold, Steven (Jane) Carlson, Kathleen (Scott) Banta, Janet (Jon) Saksa. 16 grandchildren: Betsey Alessi, Amy (Jeff) Boyle, Sarah (Evan) Anderson, Mark (Amanda) Barsness, Elizabeth (Rob) Driftmeyer, Jenny Schesvold, Jordan Schesvold, Stephanie (Luther) Kemp, Elizabeth (Kalin) Kauppila, Andrew (Christine) Banta, Jacob (Rachel) Banta, Lucas (Lisa) Banta, Molly (Shaphan) Kirkpatrick, Heidi (Jacob) Nelson, Shelly (Caleb) Spitler, Brian (Abi) Saksa and 32 great grandchildren. She is further survived by 3 sisters-in-law Genevieve Larson, Joan (Beeb) Larson, and LuAnn Larson.
Norma is preceded in death by: her husband, Carl; parents Emil & Edith Larson and parents-in-law Frank & Alvina Carlson. Siblings and spouse: Lorraine (Donald) Carlson, Gordon Larson, Philip Larson, Daniel Larson. Siblings-in-law and spouses: Andrew (Evelyn), Waldor (Millie), Lawrence (Billie; Florence), Richard, Ellsworth (Edna), Verona (Bernie) Broman. Grandson-in-law Mario Alessi.
Memorials preferred to Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church or Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 27, 2021 at Albion Evangelical Free Church north of Cokato, with visitation 1 hour prior to services at church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

Audrey Elenore Nelson was born in Cokato Township on September 20, 1922, daughter of Fred and Nettie (Stenberg) Nelson. Baptized and confirmed at the Cokato Apostolic Lutheran Church. She moved to Minneapolis and attended the MN School of Business and was employed at the Hardware Mutual Insurance Company. In 1971, Hardware Mutual was renamed Sentry Insurance. She worked there for 38 years. In 1968 she moved back to Cokato.

Preceded in death by her parents, brother George and sister Elaine (Clayton) Brown. Survived by niece Lorene (Michael) Voto, grand niece Shannon Voto (Max Krueger), grand nephew Jared (Christina) Voto, Harrison and Grant Voto, step-grand nephew Gregory (Sarah) Voto, Steven and Rebecca, Cousin Daryll (Deb) Stenberg.

A private graveside service will take place. Memorials are preferred to donors’ choice. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

James (Jim) Gordon Larson, age 67, of rural Annandale, passed away on Saturday, November 6, 2021, in hospice care at Our Lady of Peace in St. Paul, MN. He was born on February 28, 1954, in Saint Cloud, MN, the son of Gordon and Genevieve Larson.
Jim grew up on a farm north of Howard Lake and graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1972. He completed his education at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree with specialization in Technical Communication in 1977. His career included working at Beneficial Financial Group, Minnesota Valley Engineering (MVE), and recently customer service for AT&T.
Jim married his former spouse, Patricia Stevens, on August 4, 1984. Together, they had one son, Jacob. Jim was very proud of his son and the wonderful man he grew to be. A highlight was traveling to attend Jacob’s US Air Force Officer Training School ceremony, where Jim pinned Jacob’s rank of Second Lieutenant on him.
Jim enjoyed spending time reading historical biographies, western novels and watching vintage TV shows. He was meticulous about reading product reviews and ratings to ensure he purchased the best product possible at the best price. He will be fondly remembered for the attention he paid to youngsters because he had a knack for picking out gifts to match interests and would always be willing to watch the Avengers movie series.
He is survived by his son, Lieutenant Jacob (Carly) Larson and grandchildren Benjamin and Courtney of Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, mother Genevieve Larson of Howard Lake, siblings Penny (Steve) Hinderaker of Minneapolis, Belinda (Paul Bravinder) Larson, and Brian (Katy) Larson both of Howard Lake, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his infant brother, Thomas, and his father, Gordon.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, December 17, 2021 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato, with visitation 1 hour prior to services at the church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, MN 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com

Gladys Eufemia Kariniemi
Of South Haven, Minnesota, passed away at 11:32 AM on Sunday, November 7, 2021 at the age of 94 years 7 months and 29 days. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Hubert Kariniemi; son, Paul Werner; grandsons, Jaegar Paul Lee, Michael and David Kariniemi; great-grandchildren, Bridget Sorvala, Trevor Sorvala, Brecken Kariniemi; parents, Charles H. Halonen (Anna Jurmu), Tyyni M. Halonen; sisters, Judith Mattila, Mildred Raisanen, Sharen Anderson; brothers, Carl Halonen (Eunice), Douglas Halonen, Edward Halonen, Paul Halonen; and brothers-in-law, Mervin Mattila, Paul Ylitalo, Paul Raisanen, Daniel Kariniemi (Helen), and Albert Kariniemi; sisters-in-law, Hulda Hermanson (Otto), Signe Nelson (Norman). She is survived by her daughters, Deborah Kariniemi, Judith Waaraniemi, Anita Kariniemi, Mary Sorvala (Rodrick) and Karen Young (David); sons, Robert (Eeva), Stephen (Ann), Mark (Mirjami), Michael (Karen), Donald (Carol), and Philip (Margaret); daughter-in-law, Sandra; 100 grandchildren; 255 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Sylvia Muhonen (Walter), Virginia Lehtola (Ernest), and Lillian Ylitalo; brothers, Fred Halonen (Thelma), Donald Halonen (Florence) and Raymond Halonen (Betty); and sisters-in-law, Lorraine Hillukka, Martha Halonen, Connie Halonen, Betty Kariniemi; and brother-in-law, Gerald Anderson.
Gladys was born in a sod house on March 9, 1927 in Temvik, North Dakota to Charles and Tyyni Halonen. In 1944, they moved to White Bear Lake, Minnesota in her senior year of High School and she graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1945. She went to Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota in 1946 to pursue a degree in Home Economics. Her first job was a waitress at the A&W drive-in and then after college she worked at Munsingwear in the Accounting Department.
Gladys married Paul Kariniemi on July 2, 1950 at a simple ceremony at the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church on Humboldt Avenue in Minneapolis. They lived in Fulton, Michigan while Paul completed his college education. In 1951, they moved into their first home in Dearborn, Michigan. In 1956 Gladys and Paul moved to Mahtomedi, Minnesota while their house was built at 1920 Orchard Lane, White Bear Lake, Minnesota. They lived there until September of 1968 when they moved to Plymouth, Minnesota until retiring at the cabin on Lake Sylvia in 1990.
Gladys enjoyed being a hostess for family and friends at her home in Plymouth and at Lake Sylvia in South Haven. She swam 500 strokes in the morning in the Summer at the lake and cross-country skied in the Winter. She decorated well for Christmas and the tree was her favorite. The Chi Rho family Christmas party meant a lot to her. Gladys began the first Finn class at the University of Minnesota. Her favorite pastimes were her flower gardens and Fall walks in the woods. Gladys and Paul traveled extensively.
The most important thing to our dear Mother was her personal faith. She often provided gentle reminders and correction to us kids when needed, and spent many nights up waiting for one of us to get home. Mom loved to sing. One of her favorite songs was, “Oh Look at the Bird on the Branch of the Tree.” Faith and attending services was on her mind even in her last days. As recently as a week before she died, at 4:00 in the morning, she sat up in bed and told one of her children: “There are services tomorrow, are you going to ride with us?” She has now reached the Heavenly home.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at the Cokato Laestadian Lutheran Church. Visitation will be on Friday, November 12, 2021 from 5-8 PM with a 7PM prayer service, and continue 1 hour prior to the service on Saturday, all at the church. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake with visitation 1 hour prior to services at church. Burial took place on November 14, 2020 at Howard Lake Cemetery.

Shirley Anne (Stock) Klammer was born February 1, 1933 in Appleton MN to Gertrude (Sievert) and Theodore Stock. She was baptized on February 27, 1933 by Rev Herman Faedtke at Trinity Lutheran Church in Appleton MN and was confirmed in her faith on March 29, 1947 by Rev Theo. Melinat at St James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake.
She attended grade school at St James Lutheran and graduated from Howard Lake High School. In June of 1951 she was selected Strawberry Queen. While in high school she met her sweetheart Kenneth Klammer whom she married on November 9, 1956 at St James Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three children, Joni, Lori and Steve.
She was a farm wife, homemaker and a loving mother. Cooking many meals for her family and farm help. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, shopping, teaching Sunday School, taking the kids swimming at the lake and sewing. She had sewn many articles of clothing for her family and patched many pairs of farm jeans. She and her very good friend, Colleen Gutzke, started a drapery business for many years in her home in the mid 70’s.
After moving to town she enjoyed morning coffee with friends, golfing, and traveling. She and Ken enjoyed being winter Texans for many years in Pharr TX and traveling to many parts of the country. She also enjoyed remodeling and decorating her homes, doing most of the wallpapering and painting herself. One of her favorite hobbies was working with and creating beautiful sun catchers, ornaments, and lamp shades with stain glass. Her greatest accomplishment was creating and donating the Luther’s seal windows in the St James School’s gym in 1998.
When Ken was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2002 she became his caregiver until he moved to the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Care Center in 2008. For five years she visited him every day, even just to sit and hold his hand until he passed in 2013.
After suffering a stroke 2015 she moved to West View Acres in Waconia until another stroke in 2017 forced her to move to the Good Samaritan Care Center in Howard Lake. She enjoyed sitting outdoors in the sun, watching birds at her feeder, jelly beans, watching the Vikings and the Hallmark channel. She enjoyed visitors especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, they always made her smile and brightened her day.
On November 9, 2020, while a resident at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Care Center, Shirley was called Home to celebrate her 64th wedding anniversary with Ken. We are sure they danced all night. Shirley was 87 years, 9 months, and 8 days old.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Theodore and Gertrude (Sievert) Stock, husband Kenneth Klammer, brothers in law Harlan Yager and Dale Lemmerman.
Shirley is survived by her loving children Joni (Curt) Hedtke, Lori (Jim) Manecke, and Steve Klammer. Grandchildren Amanda (Adam) Hastings, Christopher (Kirsten) Hedtke, Katie and Benjamin Manecke, Wayne (Melinda Harrison) Klammer, Mitch Klammer, Kyle (Ashley Ditty) Klammer, and Wesley (Brittney Nelson) Klammer. Great grandchildren twins Jack and Max Hastings, Maddie, Hallie, Grace, and baby Hedtke, twins Addison and Avery Klammer, Haisley Klammer, and Karrianna Klammer. Sister Sandra Jensen, sisters in law Marcella Yager and Arlene Lemmerman; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.